RESIDENTS are calling for youths to be forced off the streets as part of a curfew aimed at cutting anti-social behaviour.

Fed-up with the failure of CCTV cameras to tackle the problem on the Kings Farm estate, residents say it is time to get tough.

Les Uden, chairman of the Christianfields Residents' Association, believes a curfew from 9pm to 7am would work wonders.

He says it is the only option left after the £250,000 CCTV scheme failed to work becoming a target of vandalism itself.

According to the father-of-six, only two of the nine cameras are still working after being repeatedly attacked sometimes blown up by fireworks.

The former caterer says the council has not used the system properly with only one prosecution said to have happened since the cameras were installed in 2000.

He added: "Several families have already moved from the estate in fear of their own safety because of a few individuals, who have no regard for people's lives or property.

"It starts off as low then turns to severe intimidation. The council is impotent. It failed to address the problem in the early stages."

Mr Uden, 48, also explains how for the past four years he has been chasing the council to provide him with a contact number for the CCTV suite at the council offices.

He said: "I've been told people are not allowed to contact the monitoring room.

"The cameras are a waste of time and money and other measures like curfews and dispersal orders should be introduced."

Council leader Councillor John Burden said: "A curfew is only valuable if it is enforceable.

"I believe the community working together is how bullies can be better dealt with.

"I would encourage residents to take action by going to court as witnesses."

Gravesham Council has confirmed four out of nine cameras on the estate are currently in working order.

It has estimated repairing the Palmer Avenue camera alone would cost £19,000 and the entire CCTV system is currently undergoing re-evaluation.

The council is currently investing in digital CCTV equipment to improve the quality of images recorded.

Do curfews really work?

  • A youth curfew was introduced in Wigton, Cumbria, last year for two weeks during the Easter holidays to combat anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
  • The curfew was used to disperse any gathering of two or more teenagers and to remove under-16s from the streets after 9pm.
  • Cumbrian Police say the curfew was so successful there has been no need to re-impose it on the town.
  • As a result of the curfew, Wigton has also dropped from third to sixth in a police league table showing towns affected by youth disorder.
  • Wigton mayor Bob Edgar welcomed the news by saying: "I'm hopeful there will never be a need for a curfew again."