Want the top news headlines sent to your inbox daily? Sign up to our FREE newsletter below Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Smearing poo on cars and playing ‘vomiting games’, youth yobs are turning Whitley Bay into “hell on earth” the town’s tormented locals have said.

Residents and businesses say they are being plagued by anti-social behaviour and have called on the authorities to take tough action to end their suffering.

A public meeting was held in the town on Monday night, which was attended by around 100 people, and a decision was made to set up a pressure group called Save Our Streets (SOS).

The meeting was called by resident Caz Lamb, who says there have been problems, especially around the town centre, for around two years and it has become worse.

Among the incidents highlighted are:

• Cars being damaged

• Shop windows being smashed

• Gangs of teenagers gathering, drinking alcohol, abusing and threatening residents

• Youths playing vomiting games

• Drunken people, including adults, urinating and defecating in the street

• Faeces being smeared on cars

• Drunken yobs fighting, swearing and shouting

• Damage to property

Caz said: “Everybody is so fed up. It’s just like hell on earth.

“Whitley Bay is a lovely place, a beautiful place, but there are pockets of areas where there are huge problems, especially the streets near the Metro station and in the town centre.

“Gangs of youths, aged around 15 or 16, come down the Metro and kick all the cars as they go past. They threaten and intimidate people.

“Residents have had their car wing mirrors broken and so much damage has been caused. It seems like lawlessness, we can’t go down the street without seeing drunken behaviour or gangs fighting.

“I have seen youths having vomiting contests, patting each other on the back and forcing each other to vomit.

“I once tried to stop someone from kicking a car but he just went down the street and kicked every car.

“People are just so desperate and I felt like something had to be done - enough is enough.

“So I called this meeting and put details on Facebook. And around 100 people came along. We heard a lot more about the problems people were having. A 24-year-old teacher said her car was torched the other day. Businesses have suffered damage and elderly people feel intimidated.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

“We have decided to start a pressure group and form a committee so we can get some help. We don’t think enough is being done to stop these problems.

“The police need to be more tough. We want some peace.”

Northumbria Police say they received reports last month of several cars damaged in Victoria Terrace and Jesmond Terrace. These offences are being investigated and efforts are being made to stop anti-social behaviour.

Neighbourhood Acting Insp Guy Morgan said: “We are aware there have been some concerns raised by the community about anti-social behaviour in Whitley Bay.

“To address these issues we have increased police patrols in the area and are taking action to deal with those responsible.

“Neighbourhood officers are also working closely with the local authority to address the concerns raised including youth anti-social behaviour, alcohol and begging, to effectively deal with these issues.

“We know that there are is a clear link between drunkenness and disorder, and where appropriate we will use ‘Direction to Leave’ powers, to remove people from the area which means we can minimise the potential for disorder and deal with public concerns.

“Those committing criminal offences will be arrested in the first instance, but these powers mean we can disperse groups or individuals who may be making a situation worse or getting themselves involved in disorder.

“We have also seen an increase in reports about people begging in the town. We would ask members of the public not to give money to beggars - begging is an offence and the money may be spent on drugs or alcohol rather than items such as food. We are also working with our partners on this to deliver longer term solutions to this issue.

“We hope those living in the area can see that we are taking a robust stance against alcohol-related crime and disorder and we will continue to do so.”

Anyone who has concerns about crime and disorder in their area is asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team on 101.