Six youths have been banned from McDonald’s in Barrow town centre as part of a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
The information was revealed to Barrow Borough councillors by PC Joanne Smith at a meeting on Wednesday.
PC Smith said those who had been banned from the Dalton Road fast-food restaurant were among the ‘main ringleaders’. “It kind of stopped the problems overnight in that the children that used to be on the periphery with them stopped going,” she said.
PC Smith also said that extra lighting was due to go up to the rear of Preston Street.
Cllr Frank Cassidy told members of the overview and scrutiny committee: “We have got a problem on our doorstep.”
Cllr Bill McEwan said after the meeting that he felt the force was ‘working hard’ to stamp out anti-social behaviour.
“If anybody sees anything, report it,” he said. “Somebody must be about to see something. We have got to try and stop this vandalism that’s happening. We have got to try and get to grips with it.”
Cllr McEwan said having security in McDonald’s would be a ‘good way forward’.
“And more CCTV cameras [in general] of course,” he said. “That is what they [the police] are working on big time, and I do agree with that.”
A spokesman for McDonald’s said there were no plans to add any additional security measures to those already in place in all our restaurants.
In June, it was reported that reports of anti-social behaviour in Barrow town centre had decreased following a ‘surge’.
A council report said anti-social behaviour contracts – ‘the first stage in formal action’ – had been served on identified individuals.
“The council’s approach is to initially engage with individuals involved in anti-social behaviour to educate them on the impact of their behaviour,” said the report.
“If there is no improvement and anti-social behaviour persists, legal action will be taken.
“Formal interviews have taken place with parents of the individuals, giving advice on the next stage of legal action and the implications of this action.”
The report said police had ‘confirmed reports of anti-social behaviour have reduced’.
