Villagers say they have become hostages to feral teens.
At a public meeting, more than 200 residents from Barnham, near Bognor, came together to demand answers and said their village has become lawless after violence peaked over the Easter weekend.
Everyone at the community hall had seen shocking social media videos of train security staff being attacked by teenage girls and a supermarket being looted by shoplifters.
Sussex Police were granted a dispersal order after film of the attack went viral.
A shopkeeper, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said the village is plagued with feral youth who exploit the south coast train network.
“What I don’t understand is why there were no police here after the dispersal notice was in force,” he said.
“Even if they’d just parked a van next to the station, that would have been something.”
“What is the point of reporting these incidents when nothing happens,” one man asked.
Residents who spoke at the public meeting on Thursday night said they believe train connections make their village an easy target.
British Transport Police, who operate on the rail network, have tracked a group they dubbed the West Coast Nominals for more than two years.
The group has included brothers Archie and George Tilley who were jailed for attacking Worthing dad Alan Willson.
At the meeting, Barnham residents were told there were only 39 police officers on duty for the whole of West Sussex on the day a group of teenage girls were filmed attacking train staff and 16 of those were engaged in guarding scenes or at-risk people.
Four girls aged 13, 14, 15 and 16, who are not from the area, were arrested on suspicion of offences including assaulting an emergency worker and possession of cannabis.
- READ MORE: Sussex village hit by rise in crime
They have all been bailed with conditions to prevent them from travelling to Barnham.
A taxi driver told the meeting he had been attacked in his own cab by youths who were travelling between train stations.
“When I tried to defend myself, I was the one who got arrested,” he said.
Arun District Councillor for Barnham Sue Wallsgrove said people are afraid to leave the house.
The Green Party group leader said: “People want to know what the police are doing.
“We’ve got a few residents who are frightened to go out at night.”
A railway worker who asked not to be named said: “They just think there’s nothing you can do.
“One kid just stood there and shouted at me to open the f**king barrier.
“Half the time they’ve got balaclavas on so you can’t identify them and how do I know who has a knife?”
Cllr Wallsgrove said: “A lot of these children are travelling from outside of the area.
“The shops have been stolen from but they are not allowed to stop them or chase them.”
Adur and Worthing councils have posted community wardens to patrol the village.
Security staff at two supermarkets will be given walkie-talkies to communicate with train staff, police said.
Bognor town councillor Paul Wells said he reported incidents in Bognor which he believed were linked to later violence in Barnham.
“We had incidents in Bognor which we think were related to the incidents later in Barnham.
“But there were no resources deployed to it,” he said.
Sussex Police said they made a dozen arrests in connection with anti-social behaviour in the Barnham area.
A spokesman said they are working with British Transport Police, Southern Rail, local authorities, schools and businesses.
Three people have been charged and nine people will be dealt with by the Youth Offending Team after the Easter weekend disturbances.
Four community protection warnings have been issued, nine people have been banned from entering the Co-op following reports of stealing and five more are in the process of being banned.
Detective Sergeant Lou Baileff said: “Barnham is a small and tight-knit community and we understand the impact this recent spate of behaviour is having on those who live, work and visit the village.
“We are using the full range of policing powers available to us to help prevent crime and officers are carrying out proactive and dedicated patrols to ensure a high visibility presence in the area providing a deterrent to criminals and reassurance to the community.”
A Section 34 dispersal order was authorised on Sunday, March 31, following an incident of disorder at Barnham railway station on Saturday, March 30, when passengers, security staff and police officers were assaulted.
An investigation is also underway into reported thefts from the Co-op store in The Square, Barnham, on Monday, April 1.
Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to not share it online to protect the integrity of the investigation, but to provide it to police online quoting serial 1171 of 01/04.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel