The Notts town where youths are making life a misery for everyone

Business owners and residents of Kimberley have revealed the extent of havoc caused by youths which led to police implementing a dispersal order in the town. Lasting from 4pm until midnight on Thursday, November 7, it allowed officers to arrest people who didn't go home when ordered to.

Nottinghamshire Live spoke to a number of locals who explained that theft, harassment and damage to property have been among the issues caused by the tearaways in recent weeks. Moona Sia, a staff member at Booze Express, said she had been abused after chasing off youngsters who stole crates of beer from the front of their shop.

She said: "It's happened three or four times. We used to display the beer near the door. The first time, they picked it up and ran away. That was in the morning and the same thing then happened when I was on an evening shift too. We reported it to the police and they came and took the CCTV footage.

"In the evening now we can't have just one person working. We have to have two people on shift in the afternoon and three or four at closing time. We also now keep the beer behind another door closer to the till. We are in a very, very troubled condition due to these kids. So many times they do it and so very badly they've abused me."

Nearby, Greggs staff member Jack Dean attests that the entirety of the precinct has experienced the problems. He said: "They smashed the window of No 18 with a trolley which they nicked from Sainsbury's. They'll also take them from Heron Foods. They stole a few items from our shop and threw eggs inside too.

"It's slowly progressing with how much damage they're getting away with. We've reported it to the police about three times. The police come around every so often doing patrols, but then the kids will go to Eastwood or Ilkeston, and then come back once the police are gone.

"They're between probably as young as 12 and about 15-16 so you can't really do anything because they're kids and so we don't get priority. It's frustrating. We once rang the police at 7pm before we closed at half 7, but we were there until half 8 waiting. They told us they'd get there when they get there."

Jack says in the latest round of nuisance, on Friday, November 1, the youths were hanging around outside hobby shop Meeples and Mulligans, which sells board games, playing cards, magazines and more. Owner David Clark, 36, was serving Jack at the time, who then left.

The youths then smashed the glass bus stop window. Jack says he was the person who rang the police.

David said: "It was about ten to six. I heard a smashing noise just as the customers had left. Then they scarpered. The last trouble we had here was in March, before then January and before that December and we'd only opened in September. They'd just cause a nuisance, being loud and disturbing customers. When they got moved on they'd bang on the window.

"From that point onwards, when I'd see them we'd lock the doors to stop them causing any trouble. They know I've got a camera now, so I'll see them walk past and put on their face coverings and hoods. But the Korean restaurant next to us have had it bad. They were egged on Thursday and then again on Tuesday I think."

Kimberley neighbourhood policing sergeant Simon Boyles previously said: “Over the last two weeks we have received reported incidents of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and violence in the Main Street area, as well as disorder taking place around the car park area at the rear of Sainsbury’s and the council car park area in Greens Lane.

“Our proactive patrols will continue, and I want to reassure members of the public that we will take appropriate action against individuals who cause safety concerns and misery for local people and businesses.”