A GROUP of residents successfully joined forces to tackle anti-social behaviour with the help of their local police team.
For nearly three years, residents of Witham Court, in Ruckholt Road, Leyton, suffered intimidation at the hands of group of five young men in their early twenties, who would regularly break into the communal areas to hang around and smoke cannabis.
Mum-of-one Lynn Engelbrecht, 29, a mac operator, said: “The residents felt intimidated by them. Once, we tried to tell them to leave and they said they would come back with guns.
“It was really upsetting and we were worried about them breaking into the flats. They also had a pit-bull terrier they would let off the lead in the gardens.”
Her husband, Lance Engelbrecht, 37, said: “When my wife was pregnant, I was so afraid these youths would attack her. I’ve seen them intimidating locals with a vicious pit-bull.”
The couple joined forces with a group of neighbours who held several meetings about the problem.
The Leyton Safer Neighbourhood team advised the residents not to confront the youths but to report all incidents.
Police patrols were also increased to make residents feel safer and warn off the perpetrators.
After improved lighting and security cameras were installed in the block, the Leyton Safer Neighbourhoods Team identified the young men and gave them verbal warnings to stop their anti-social behaviour or risk being served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).
Mrs Engelbrecht said the youths haven't returned since and that the combination of the community working together and police intervention has paid off.
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