Children, 10, are drinking in our streets

4:28pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

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By Andy Woolfoot »

CHILDREN as young as ten are spending evenings drinking and smoking drugs in the streets and grassed areas of the Chesterton estate of Cirencester.

Residents say they are fed up of the noise and mess caused by the groups of youths and regularly have to clear away dozens of bottles and discarded cigarette butts left lying on the ground.

Some have also found paraphernalia associated with cannabis-smoking and even syringes.

Remnants of fires started by the groups are also often found.

People living on the estate say that the activity happens mainly at weekends but fear it will increase during the school summer holidays which begin in a few weeks.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Standard: "In Chesterton there are parties every weekend and residents regularly go out and pick up beer cans and bottles, high-energy drinks cans and the occasional needle.

"There are few litter bins around this part of town and therefore is there any surprise that children are chucking it down.

"They are as young as ten, I've been out and challenged them and asked why they were getting drunk, starting fires and smoking all sorts.

"Why would a kid want to go boozing at the age of ten?"

"The thing is I'm sure they are good kids. People of my generation say it is because they are not brought up right but I don't know."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire police said: "There is a field in Chesterton where youths congregate and consume alcohol. Police and PCSOs regularly patrol in this area and officers often confiscate alcohol from youngsters.

"In a bid to ease problems, police are currently working closely with the town council and the Cotswold District Council to provide a youth shelter and litter bins for the area.

"PCSOs are also working with local schools to try and reduce under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour."

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