Furious residents and business owners say they are afraid to go to work in Shirley due to the "fear and havoc" caused by a group of youths.

More than 50 residents and business owners met at Shirley's Salvation Army Church to speak to police and local services at the regular PACT meeting.

This meeting was a response to a recent spike in antisocial behaviour in Shirley, which has seen businesses smashed and left staff fearful to go to work.

The owner of the Shirley Subway says he has been locking his door during known peak antisocial hours, only opening the door to allow customers in, and the Co-op on Foyes Corner has restricted the number of unsupervised children allowed into the shop at the end of the school day.

Attending the meeting from Hampshire Constabulary were PC Nina Headley and Tom Byrne, in addition to Francesca Prior, Southampton Council service manager for Stronger Communities, and Emma Gudgeon from the council's Contextual Safeguarding Team, as well as representatives from Youth Options.

Two in blue are from Youth Options, followed by Emma Gudeon, PC Tom Byrne, PC Nina Headley and Francesca PriorTwo in blue are from Youth Options, followed by Emma Gudeon, PC Tom Byrne, PC Nina Headley and Francesca Prior (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Fran, who works at the Shirley Library, asked what local businesses can do to stay safe. She said: "From two o'clock in the evening, we are on edge. We phone up (police) and we get nothing.

"You know why they are doing this? Because it's fun. It is not fun for us to come to work. People are beginning to get frightened in their own homes.

"I am too old to be frightened to go to work in a library.

"Why are so few of the community causing so much fear and havoc.

"It is going to come to a point where people are going to start taking things into their own hands.

"I really hope it doesn't happen, yes, they are children, but they are doing adult behaviour."

Another who spoke, Clive Towbridge, was attacked by a group of youths with a water pistol on May 20, taking refuge in Barnardo's.

He said to the panel, "How can you allow this to happen? Let's be radical about this thing. Let's take their mobile phones away, let's take their bikes away. "

Residents also spoke of the most recent incident at Sunnyday International Foods, which suffered a smashed window and harassment. Police did not attend despite being called, sparking further outrage.

Police and partner response during the meeting: 

Police and the other authorities present urged patience, saying that measures are being taken in partnership to try and tackle the situation.

In response to residents' questions about why harsher measures weren't being taken, PC Tom Byrne, the officer assigned to Shriley, said: "They are still 13-14-year-olds. They are not going to go to prison. It will take time. If I could, I would snap my fingers and make it go away."

PC Bryne adds that there has been progress in several related investigations, but could not go into detail and urged residents to be patient.

PC Nina Headley said they are working with their partners to try and tackle the issue. She said arrests have been made, and said they are looking at solving the "root cause", adding: "It is a complex situation we are dealing with.

"We are making it clear to our colleagues dealing with the 999 calls to make arrests as appropriate. 

"We are going to be trying everything we can as a police force."

Emma Gudgeon from Southampton Council's Contextual Safeguarding Team spoke to the social worker aspect of the issue, and assured residents that "there are actions happening right now".