POLICE are to be called in to deal with a group of yobs “causing havoc” in Cockfield.
Anti-social behaviour, such as kicking road signs, shooting crows and damaging street furniture, was highlighted during a meeting of Cockfield Parish Council.
The issue was raised by Cllr David Britton who described the teenagers as being between 13 and 15 years old.
He said: “It is unbelievable. There’s two or three walking around with catapults shooting crows out of the trees. I’ve chased them twice this past week. Tonight, I caught them again.
“We know crows are vermin, but it is illegal now. You have to have a licence to shoot vermin.
“I don’t recognise them, but I know there are two or three kids coming from Evenwood and they are causing havoc. It is getting horrendous.”
Cllr Britton said he had caught the youngsters carrying a barrier stolen from a water works site at the Staindrop junction, as they were walking past his house.
He said: “I made them carry it all the way back up. They were flinging it down the road, sliding it down the road. They are wrecking the place. The road signs are getting kicked about.
“I think we need the neighbourhood police out.”
Issues of vandalism were also recorded by chairwoman Cllr Brenda Singleton in her annual report at the previous month’s meeting.
She said swings in the children’s play area had been burned beyond repair.
“We have replaced them three times and have now decided not to do so anymore as they are expensive and just get vandalised soon after installation,” she said.
“We will look at something different which hopefully will be vandal-proof.
“It is a sad state of affairs when small children cannot have swings because of a few people who insist on destroying them.”
There is also an ongoing problem of smashed empty bottles and cans constantly littered around the village recreation area, the chairwomen noted.
The council agreed to report the problem to Barnard Castle Police as well as Durham County Council’s neighbourhood wardens.
l In a separate issue, there have been reports of vehicles being driven off-road on Cockfield Fell, England’s largest scheduled monument. In response, Barnard Castle Police’s neighbourhood team has installed section 59 notices in the area.
The 350-hectare fell has a rich history, including pre-Roman settlements, and industrial evidence dating back to the 14th century, before it became a regulated pasture managed by the field reeves.
The section 59 notices, supported by Historic England and the field reeves, means that any vehicle passing the sign that commits any act of anti-social behaviour is liable to have their vehicle seized.
Meanwhile, a similar scheme to combat nuisance drivers has been introduced at Selset Reservoir in upper Teesdale.
Following reports of vehicles being driven anti-socially in the area, section 59 warning signs have been put up around the reservoir.
Anyone seen driving in an anti-social manner in the area can have their vehicle seized immediately.
The scheme, which has been brought in by Barnard Castle neighbourhood police team and Northumbrian Water, aims to crackdown on nuisance drivers.
The notices also cover off-road bikes and e-scooters, which are illegal to use anywhere other than private land.
In Barnard Castle, after turf on the Demesnes was torn up in two separate instances causing about £2,000 damage, the police and Durham County Council issued a section 59.
To report a nuisance vehicle, call 101 or email open
durance@durham.police.uk. Information can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
