Described by one resident as a "lovely place" that is "going downhill", we visited Langley Mill to speak to locals on their opinions on the rise in anti-social behaviour in the village. Langley Mill, in the Amber Valley district, is currently under a police dispersal order after a series of incidents of anti-social behaviour and disorder that have been reported to Derbyshire police, reports Derbyshire Live.
Residents of the Derbyshire village have expressed their concerns over the lack of places for children to positively spend their time during school holidays following an increase in anti-social behaviour incidents. The common initial thing we were told by residents was the lack of options to occupy children outside of school hours.
A local business owner said: "They have nothing to do in Langley Mill. So, they get a bike, or steal one and race up and down the pavements causing danger to people walking along."
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The man, who wished to remain anonymous, was not the only person to comment on the need for some sort of infrastructure to give children options. Another commented: "(They) Should try spending some money to give these kids something to do, they're bored there's nothing around here for them to do."
It appears most residents who we spoke to believe teens and children racing on cycle bikes as well as motocross bikes is the biggest anti-social issue plaguing Langley Mill. A mum, who kindly stopped to speak to our reporter said: "They make a lot of noise, and you see them without helmets on. They are a danger to others and themselves."
Currently the dispersal order runs from 5pm on Thursday April 21 to 5pm on Saturday April 23 and would allow police to disperse people from the stated areas, and if they are involved in instances of anti-social behaviour, take anyone under 16 back to their home. A dispersal order can only be authorised for a maximum period of 48 hours but at the point of expiry, police will carry out an assessment and a further period of up to 48 hours can be authorised if necessary.
Local Kevan Brown said: "They'll lay low for 48 hours, then back as if they were acting like thugs." Another resident said: "No one is stopping them, it needs to be in place permanently."
Other issues raised by locals was a constant stream of litter being dropped in the town. A mum of two, who was walking the dog with her young boy, told us how she and her children use litter pickers to try and help clean the streets.
Her son said: "I picked the litter up with my mum with the pickers. Littering should be against the law." Although it was amusing to watch his mother explain that littering was against the law, it does leave a bad thought that this young boy has seen so much littering, that he only thought it was an annoyance, not a crime.
Derbyshire Live have reached out to Amber Valley District Council for a comment on if the council are looking at creating anything to occupy children in the village.
