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When I visited home this summer (2002) I was upset to read in the paper that some teen punks, who live in low income subsidized housing, started up a street gang. I was even more upset at the non response to the issue by the local housing authority Written in August 7, 2002 - Web posted September 2002 |
The rise in gang activity in London is disturbing. Worse, is the lack of action taken by those in the London and Middlesex Housing Corporation. On July 30th The London Free Press reported on the problem, with a front page article titled "Victims say Gang Protest Ignored." Housing complex residents say the problem is partly the responsibility of the housing authority much the same way as a maintenance issue. I agree with them. Housing authority spokesperson Graeme McIntosh disagrees and says youth troublemakers are a problem for the police. McIntosh is wrong and his attempts to shirk responsibility are appalling. Apparently McIntosh has not yet heard of a new and successful concept -a private security guard. They work well in Toronto and in many US cities.
If the resources of the police are spread too thin to deal with rowdy youth, communities and apartment complexes must take matters into their own hands by employing private security guards who disperse, disrupt, and deal with troublemakers before their antics escalate into violence. The price of maintaining a private security guard is more cost effective than what a community must incur as the result of an increase in violent crimes.
A cockroach infestation in an apartment building is the responsibility of the landlord. Only when an outbreak escalates out of control is it a matter for health officials. Likewise, youth disturbances should be preventatively dealt with before they become a problem where residents must call police for help.