Teen violence 'has become normal' in Sussex village terrorised by yobs

People and businesses in Barnham, between Littlehampton and Bognor, say their village has been plagued by teenagers drinking, thieving and throwing eggs on the streets.

Over the last year or so, they have been calling for change as they "became hostages to feral youths" and the area turned "lawless".

With the school holidays having just passed, they say the problems continue to ebb and flow – but police are trying to keep a handle on it.

Sussex Police officers were out in force in Barnham on Monday in a “day of action” – but businesses said arrests and criminal action had a limited effect on the problem.

Mehdi Gholamzadeh runs two eateries near Barnham railway station, where the issues have been most harshly felt.

Read more: Barnham antisocial behaviour prompts police order in village

Barnham business owner Mehdi Gholamzadeh (Image: The Argus)

He told The Argus that while things had improved he still faces issues on a regular basis – even being forced to close his shop last year.

He said: “I’ve been in the area for 11 years and it used to be really good. In the last 18 months it has been really bad with teenagers.

“They smash glass on the street. In one month I changed ten tyres on my car because of smashed glass.

“They nick alcohol from Co-op and Tesco, drink it and smash the glasses. We have to clean up after them.

“Last Halloween we had to shut the shop because they were drunk and asked if they could use our toilet which we didn’t allow – they nicked eggs and flour from Co-op and chucked it at the window.

“Since some got arrested it has been slightly better. Security at the train station has been better too.”

Shortly after 3pm, when local schools let out for the day, the centre of Barnham becomes awash with school children.

With that sea of young people comes problems.

Businesses say that two particular targets – Tesco and Co-op – are particular targets for repeat offenders who steal alcohol and cause havoc on the streets.

In some instances, passing cars have been pelted with eggs and shopworkers have faced verbal abuse.

Read more: Sussex Police investigating assault at Barnham restaurant

At the train station, two teenage boys were escorted off the platform by security for littering.

Barnham on a busy Monday afternoon (Image: The Argus) And, despite the hubbub of officers on the street in the “day of action”, one persistent shoplifter slipped into the Co-op store to continue her campaign of theft and aggression.

One Co-op worker said: “Five minutes ago two girls came in who always cause trouble.

“A girl came in who is a serial shoplifter – nearly every day either on her own or with friends.

“I called 999 and once they left I was passed on to 101.

“They took details and now we just wait for emails.

“The police know who they are. This one girl comes in five or six times a week, if not every day.”

Another worker added: “There are a few select kids that keep causing trouble. It was way worse last year I would say.

“Now school has picked up it's also picked up.

“I would say it happens daily. The kids are very talkative and aggressive. They steal a few items, they take it and leave.

“It happens so often it has become normal, I don’t pay so much mind to it anymore.”

Problems came to a head when a video circulated on social media showed the extent of the issues surrounding Barnham station.

A private security firm was brought in to help patrol the streets and quell issues, and residents say that this improved issues if only briefly.

Sussex Police say they are listening to residents and they have slapped offenders with 20 community resolutions, seven youth cautions and taken four people to court for a total of 23 different offences.

Read more: Fears new Domino's will attract more 'feral' youths to Sussex village

And Will Keating-Jones, district commander for Chichester and Arun, says that in some cases getting children to make amends for their own behaviour can be the best thing for them.

Sussex Police DC Will Keating-Jones in Barnham (Image: The Argus) He said: “I think community resolutions can be the most appropriate in some cases. They benefit the community because they provide a service to the community that would not have been done otherwise.

“Of those children we have given community resolutions, 13 of the children have not re-offended. It gives them a chance to rehabilitate themselves.

“The issues in Barnham are predominantly perpetrated by a small number of individuals who come to notice time and time again.

“We’re here and we are listening. We’ll get more officers on the beat and they will be happy to speak to people.

“We can’t tackle what we’re not being told about. Once we have that we will find the resources to deal with the problem.”