Parents 'scared' to take their kids to football

Anti-social behaviour including fires being set and eggs thrown at cars has led to parents being scared to take their children to training sessions, the chairman of a grassroots football club has said.

Blakelaw FC's Gavin Campbell said youths had been causing trouble near the Newcastle club for a couple of months and complained that it was having a "big impact" on the community.

Reform UK councillor for Blakelaw and Cowgate Rachel Davison said her party had called for an emergency full council meeting, saying issues were happening "year in and year out and nothing's been put in place".

Liberal Democrat-led Newcastle Council said it had held meetings, put on patrols and installed CCTV.

Northumbria Police said it treated reports of anti-social behaviour seriously.

Blakelaw FC has nearly 400 children signed up, supported by 70 volunteers.

Campbell said fireworks had been aimed at players over the fences, and a fire had recently been set in the car park.

"Parents are scared to bring the kids to football now because the cars are getting hit with stones and eggs where they're travelling to and from the venue," he added.

Campbell said the troublemakers should be "named and shamed" or put under a curfew.

"When people say 'let's feel sorry for the kids, there's nothing for them'; there's a football club here, there's two boxing clubs local," he said.

Stagecoach services are avoiding the area in the evenings due to the anti-social behaviour and a fire engine was taken out of service after items were thrown at it.

The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said concerns it would only now come to the area if accompanied by police were untrue.

"Decisions on attendance are always based on the circumstances and level of risk associated with each incident," a spokesperson said.

"Incidents where there is an immediate risk to life, such as house fires and road traffic collisions, are always treated as the highest priority and receive an urgent emergency response."

Davison, who is also the deputy leader of Reform Newcastle, said her party had requested an extraordinary meeting of the council.

She hopes to discuss potential solutions including curfews, speaking to families or community service.

"We've been speaking to residents and they are very angry about the situation and the reason that they're angry is because it's been happening at the same time every year and it's never been addressed," she said.

"At the minute, there's no consequences for their actions."

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said the force held "face-to-face meetings to listen to the local community about their concerns and answer any questions".

"To date, we have identified 20 young people, some of whom have been arrested and are on police bail pending further enquiries."

Reform chaired a community meeting last month attended by the council, police, fire service and bus operator.

Peter Lovatt, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local services, said his local authority had "set in motion processes that bring together organisations and stakeholders to further discuss and agree positive proactive action".

"And, as we committed to in that meeting, we will meet again with residents in the near future to look at progress or any new information."

The Liberal Democrat councillor added that previously, in terms of the number of reported incidents, Blakelaw had "not been a problem area".

"After concerns were raised, the council has actively engaged with the community, attending events, patrolling both before and after dark, installing CCTV and supporting youth outreach work."

Campbell said: "It's a great area, but unfortunately it's things like this that's putting a bad name on it."

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