Volunteers help curb estate crime

Volunteers patrol the estate and report anti-social behaviour

People living on a crime-ridden housing estate have joined forces with police to stamp out its yob culture.

In the past year alone there have been 1,500 recorded crimes on the Kingswood estate in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Now volunteers are patrolling the streets to help curb the behaviour which is making their lives a misery.

In just one month Streetwatch reported more than 14 crimes to police and its members say they are determined to make their estate a better place to live.

The volunteers' efforts, which have been followed by a BBC documentary team, can be seen by television viewers on Thursday night.

A torch with a microphone and videocamera is at volunteers' disposal

When police asked for volunteers PC Peter Chism, of the anti-social behaviour unit, said they were not asking people to be being vigilantes.

"This is not about taking people on. It's about being the eyes and ears of the community," he said.

"It is only through obtaining evidence that we can take these yobs to court."

One of the tools at the volunteers' disposal is a torch that includes a microphone and videocamera.

They say many of the children who cause trouble on the estate are not bad but simply easily influenced and they want to do something positive to help them.

Streetwatch volunteers accept being the eyes and ears of the community has its dangers - but they say they are determined to help make their estate a better place to live.

Neighbours On Patrol is on BBC2 at 10pm on Thursday.