HOUSEHOLDERS say they feel “under siege” by gangs of youths loitering outside a shop on their estate shop.
People living in Blackbird Leys have complained about young people gathering outside Costcutters in Pegasus Road, and have accused them of disturbing residents, drinking alcohol and “bullying” passers-by.
Police have been working with shop staff to help disperse the teenagers – who tend to gather on Friday and Saturday nights.
Officers decided against installing a mosquito device, which emits a high pitched sound to deter young people from hanging around, encouraging owners instead to turn store lights off after closing time, with the intemntion of prevent people from congregating at night.
The shop, known locally as Premier Supermarket, or the Oxford Supermarket, closes its doors at 11pm.
One shop worker, who asked not to be named, said problems outside the store included drug dealing, drinking, picking on elderly people and kicking footballs at shop windows.
He said: “The big problem is that there are 10 to 15 guys, smoking weed, speaking loudly, and drug dealing. Sometimes they drink outside as well.
“They always bully old people so we ring the police. Then they run away, but they always come back again.
“We turn the lights off but it doesn’t make much of difference because there are other lights in the road”.
The shop worker said that since new CCTV cameras had been installed at Top Shops in Blackbird Leys Road and in Dunnock Way, the problem had been displaced – with his store bearing the brunt of antisocial behaviour on the estate.
He said: “Many people do not come here because there are too many kids who fight.
“Since the cameras were installed they all gather here. We are the only shop open past 9pm, but people no longer come in to get their bread and milk”.
One 66-year-old Pegasus Road resident, who also asked not to be named, said: “Some people are a bit intimidating and a bit of a nuisance. But when the police are around it quietens down.
“We get up to 20 groups of youths, and they leave a terrible mess.
“It doesn’t quieten down, and some people are living virtually under siege”.
A 51-year-old man, from nearby Crowberry Road, said: “The problems occur late at night.
“It affects us more when it’s warm because we leave the windows open.
“These antisocial people keep my family awake with loud music from cars.
“They also leave mess, bottles, cans and paper cups. We would rather they went somewhere else”.
Sgt Rob Axe of Thames Valley Police said local officers were working to tackle the problem. He said: “We know it’s a focus for antisocial behaviour.
“We want to properly manage the situation, and we are working with Costcutters to reduce the levels of youths hanging around.
“If the lights are still on, they attract people so we have discussed it and they decided to turn the lights off”.
