A LOCAL politician has said Theale feels like the ‘Wild West’ after gangs of teenagers vandalised parts of the village centre.
Councillors have called for a crisis meeting after a gang of approximately 20 teenagers in the High Street smashed up a noticeboard last Friday.
This is the latest in a string of problems with anti-social behaviour as the children’s playground in Englefield Road was recently damaged, and parts of Holy Trinity Church have been defaced with graffiti.
Teenagers often gather in the High Street at night and there have been problems with shoplifting and vandalism.
Theale Parish Council heard about the extent of the vandalism problem at its meeting on Monday evening and the council is hoping to organise a public meeting in January to try and resolve the crisis.
Parish councillor Andy Simmons said: “I was out on Friday night and Theale looked liked the Wild West.
“There were two PCSOs on duty at 10.45pm.
“I saw many people running around and they smashed a notice board near the Co-op.
“The PCSOs have no power of arrest and the teenagers just laughed at them.
“What we need is a proper police presence.
“The PCSOs do their best but they have no power to restrain teenagers.
“There must have been 20 people aged approximately 16 to 21.
“Two of them could not do anything.
“There needs to be a few arrests and make an example of someone.”
Parish council clerk Jo Rueth said: “Preferably the arrests would lead to court action rather than a ticking off.”
The meeting also heard that vandals had damaged a newly installed heating tank behind the village hall.
The vandals have attacked the pipes three times since Saturday afternoon, and each time the damage has been repaired.
Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Victoria Brandon said after the meeting: “PCSOs have been instrumental in four recent arrests for criminal damage in Theale.
“The arrests are as a result of information being provided to the PCSOs who are a visible presence in the community.
“Operation Outcry, which was launched across West Berkshire in October, has been set up in order to tackle the increase in violent crime which often occurs at this time of year.
“The neighbourhood team are carrying out targeted patrols in Theale and the dispersal orders are still in place to prevent anti-social behaviour taking place in the village.”
Thames Valley Police recently introduced a dispersal order, which gives officers the power to disperse two or more people from the central part of the village.
Anyone who does not follow police orders can be arrested.