On Saturday night (29th of September) in Beechmount avenue
death drivers where back on our streets.
The stolen car that was 'joy riding' up and down Beechmount
Avenue had narrowly missed numerous houses along the way and a shop front. The
vehicle then proceeded to crash into a set of newly erected traffic lights, the
vehicle was then set alight and left in the street burnt out.
40 plus youths were gathered in Beechmount Avenue and the surrounding
area for over 3 hours before the car came into the community. The youths were
drinking alcohol and could be seen and heard by many residents shouting,
antagonising, throwing bottles and other projectiles.
Residents of the area have approached the Beechmount
Residents Collective and have stressed their concern about the on-going
situation in the community. Issues of anti-social behaviour and most recently
the case of car crime, something that has been on the rise for the past number
of months in the area. After talking to the residents it is clear to see that
Saturday was the worst case of anti-social behaviour that the residents have
witnessed in some time.
The PSNI were no where to be seen around the area on
Saturday night, which appears to be, might I add, quite frequently the case.
The PSNI claim to be defending our working class community. Yet this is another
clear example that the PSNI are unable and are completely uncommitted to
dealing with these issues. Many of these anti-social elements (hoods) are known
to the PSNI but seem to be immune from prosecution and are allowed to have free
reign in the community to continue with their anti-social activities.
The scenes witnessed on Saturday night instilled fear into
motorists passing through the area and residents of the area. Also the young
children of the area have been left scared and deeply upset. This type of
behaviour is completely inappropriate and unwanted in and by the Beechmount
community.
The Beechmount Residents Collective (B.R.C) would like to
stress that our community needs to come together, self empower and stand
against the anti-social elements that wish to decimate our proud community.
Update Thursday 4th of Oct:
The Above statment was sent to the Andersonstown News to highlight the concerns of the people of beechmount, The A.T.N ran with the Story in todays paper...
