A CHILD has allegedly been “held at knifepoint” on his way home from school in Thornaby.

Stockton South MP Matt Vickers sounded concerns about “lives being made a misery” by “gangs of youths” in the House of Commons last week. 

And the Conservative councillor also revealed a list of problems he’d received from Mandale and Victoria.

Mr Vickers said: “In the last week I’ve been told about cars being damaged, house windows smashed, people abused in the street, a pensioner assaulted in his own home and an 11-year-old held a knifepoint on the way home from school.

“It cannot go on.”

Mr Vickers told the chamber he wanted more done to “strengthen the powers of the courts and police” to deal with youth offending. 

A dispersal order was imposed in Thornaby over the weekend with extra police and enforcement staff rolled out. 

The measures came after Mr Vickers held surgery appointments alongside police on Friday to discuss “unacceptable” anti-social behaviour in the town.

“I’m determined to do everything I can to ensure people don’t need to feel scared in their own homes – and that our police are equipped with the tools they need to do the job,” the MP added. 

More CCTV and better provision for young people are plans on the table to improve some of the problems faced in Thornaby. 

Town mayor Cllr Steve Walmsley has railed against a small group of young people blighting Thornaby estates for years.

He believed dispersal orders were “neither use nor ornament” and measures needed to be tougher. 

Cllr Walmsley said: “We’ve been promised one or two things – people are being told they’re getting more police. 

“But we’re going to get more police to do what? 

“I was brought up that if somebody commits a crime, they’re arrested.

“If somebody is harassing, intimidating, ripping shutters off boarded up properties, throwing stones and bricks at passing buses and shouting racist comments to taxi drivers or passengers – it’s criminal, and it’s the same bunch over and over again.

“The MP has said exactly what I said to him three months ago. 

“We want the police and courts given powers so they have a deterrent. 

“Mr Vickers has come around in the last week or two but he’s been the MP for nine months. 

“He was at the meeting just after Christmas when all this was going on – the public meeting we called.

“Where has he been?”

Mr Vickers said he’d met representatives from residents’ associations who were working hard to tackle anti-social behaviour.

He added there had been an arrest in the alleged knife incident – saying it would be inappropriate to comment any further on the police’s response.

Mr Vickers said: “Since being elected in December I have been out on shift with the police several times in the area.

“From a night shift with the response team, to a day shift on bikes with local PCSOs, I have been able to see the issues the police deal with day in and day out.

“I have also met housing providers and the people responsible for the council’s enforcement and youth diversion teams.”

Cleveland Police lost more than 500 officers and PCSOs between 2010 and 2019 – but there have been pledges to bring back lost staff.

The MP added he was talking to the council and police about “improving police presence” and making better use of injunctions and orders.

“It’s great that there are now more police officers in the area and that they have greater stop and search powers,” said Mr Vickers.

“I am determined to see Thornaby get its share of policing resources.

“Recently we have seen the formation of a new team designed to tackle drugs head on an, as a result we have seen the doors of drug dens taken down, more stop and search of suspected drug dealers.

“This weekend we’ve seen more arrests in the area and trading standards have tackled irresponsible retailers”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the dispersal orders in Thornaby had been effective.

She added: “We have had a reduced number of reports in relation to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity (involving youths) when they were in place. 

“The Mandale, Victoria and Village Park areas of Thornaby will remain a priority for police and we will continue to take a partner agency approach with the council, housing agencies and schools in a bid to reduce crime in this area.

“We have a dedicated team of officers and PCSOs who are assigned to patrol these areas and they will continue to do so in a bid to identify youths responsible for anti-social behaviour and other forms of criminal activity which cause misery to our communities.”

The force has also urged parents to work with them to keep track of what their children are getting up to. 

“Residents are feeling intimidated and upset as a result of the actions of youths and it is important that we work together to tackle these problems,” the spokeswoman added.

“We will continue with dispersal orders and will make arrests where necessary.

“Residents should not have to put up with these problems and the neighbourhood team is doing everything possible to try to bring these issues to an end, but we need parents to work with us.”