 Police were called to a 16th birthday party at Hillside Hall lat month after complaints were lodged over 100 youths causing anti-social behaviour and underage drinking. The incident occurred on Friday May 9 when police officers in Watford had earlier that evening confiscated a large amount of alcohol of off a group of 14-year-olds in Cassiobury Park who were on their way to the birthday party at Hillside Hall. As a result, police from Abbots Langley were informed and their Neighbourhood Team used their local knowledge to drive round the area and cut off the backstreets and alleyways which led to the School Mead venue. This seemed to work as a number of groups, male and female, were stopped on their way to the party due to having large quantities of alcohol. Among the items confiscated from the underage drinkers were large two litre bottles of Strongbow cider, bottles of Lambrusco and cans of Carlsberg and Fosters beer. The alcohol was seized due to none of those in possession being over the age of 18. Alcostrips were also used to test the contents of liquid in soft drink bottles, with some of these producing a positive outcome, resulting in them also being confiscated. Despite all this alcohol being seized, My Abbots has received a number of complaints concerning the Friday night in question, with residents stating that there were a number of underage drinkers around the School Mead area making a lot of noise and being a general nuisance. One resident even went as far to write to the council over the incident. With the Breakspeare Pub right next door, My Abbots went and spoke to the staff at the pub to get their views on the incident. One staff member said: “Police came in and asked us to keep an eye out as there were a lot of youngsters outside and many had been drinking. Later on that night a few tried to get in here, but we asked them to leave when they couldn’t produce ID and they did so.” Pub landlord, Lee West, was not happy about the behaviour outside, saying that it did not look good when people wanted to come in and have a quiet drink. He said: “I think it’s disgusting. If people are driving up to the pub and see all that going on, they will simply turn around and head off somewhere else. I’m trying to gain customers, not lose them.” Police officers spoke to the parents who were supervising the party to make them aware that Hillside Hall did not have a drinks license for the event, so no alcohol should be consumed. Officers observed the event and saw one girl walk into the building with a bottle of Lambrusco who was underage. One resident who lives very close to Hillside Hall is fed up with what he perceives to be ongoing anti-social behaviour around School Mead. He did not wish to be named but told My Abbots: “I have genuinely seen an increase in anti-social behaviour over the last
four months. Further to this there was disorder on the 17th of May 2008. Music went beyond 11.30pm. On leaving the venue there was disorder by approximately 20 youths. This involved climbing onto the hall roof and disorder on the green.” At a recent meeting of the council, members of the parish declared that they were concerned by the complaints lodged and that the booking process of Hillside Hall may have to be reviewed. Councillor Keith Williams said: “There wasa problem in our hall, so we need to think about these issues carefully. I am not happy with tonight’s discussion.” Councillor Chris Daily added at the same meeting: “We have a duty of care and obligation to the residents to ensure the environment they live in is not blighted.” This alleged anti-social behaviour comes at the end of a long line of incidents, which has seen adults fighting over parking spaces and three teenagers allegedly smoking drugs outside Hillside Hall. One resident who lives on School Mead, however, thinks that the fuss being made is well over the top. He told My Abbots: “The kids don’t have anywhere to go or anything to do here, so what are they supposed to get up to? They make a bit of noise, yes, but they’re no harm. I think people need to think about what these kids can do in the area before they start moaning about them.” Police have been quick to reassure residents that they are taking this matter of underage drinking seriously and have appealed to the locals around the village to report anything to them rather than brushing it under the carpet. Sergeant Neil Canning told My Abbots: “If people report things happening and let us know. We take the issue of underage drinking very seriously and if anyone knows of any premises selling alcohol to people underage we can arrange test purchases and go and do license checks.” If you wish to report any anti-social behaviour or believe a premises is selling alcohol to underage children you can call police on 0845 33 00 222.
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