Stop yob fear in Barking & Dagenham

RECENTLY I was invited to attend two meetings organised by the local council. The first was at Roycroft House, and was aimed at black and ethnic minorities, with the idea to build trust and understanding and community spirit. But the meeting was cancelled

RECENTLY I was invited to attend two meetings organised by the local council.

The first was at Roycroft House, and was aimed at black and ethnic minorities, with the idea to build trust and understanding and community spirit. But the meeting was cancelled, as no one turned up, except me.

The second was a Housing Focus group at the Learning Centre, and what I heard was disturbing.

A white woman with mixed race children has experienced racial abuse in her neighbourhood and she got no support from the police and council.

A black woman said she felt she got no help after being robbed.

And at the end of the meeting, when I was leaving, a black woman asked me to walk her to the bus stop because she felt very afraid she might be attacked.

So I stayed with her until she got on the number 62 bus.

Now, with the tragic case of the woman with a disabled daughter killing themselves in a blazing car in Leistershire, after being terrorised by yobs and not getting any support from the council and police, are we, as a community, falling apart?

The Prime Minister has said he will come down hard on antisocial behaviour, but I don't think young people are that bad.

I want to see them in work, spending money and having a good time, just like I did when I was young.

David Cooper,

Longbridge Road

Barking