Northern beaches eshays: Push for CCTV, fencing after $1m vandal bill police crack down continues
Teenagers labelled ‘delinquents’ by the NSW Police commissioner will be the target of a month-long crackdown after more than 130 reports of misbehaviour in one weekend.
Manly
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Calls are being made to introduce CCTV and alarms at all council assets to protect them from vandals after it was revealed that ratepayers have forked out close to $1m for repairs in the north of the peninsula over the last five years.
Council staff also estimate that two newly renovated public buildings have been targeted by vandals 47 times since 2019.
The most frequently vandalised council buildings in the Narrabeen Ward are St Matthews Farm Sport Amenities, Cromer and Tramshed Public Amenities, Narrabeen.
While in Pittwater, the most vandalised public buildings are Avalon SLSC Public Amenities, Kitchener Park Public Amenities, Mona Vale and North Narrabeen Reserve Sports Amenities North.
The Narrabeen Swim Club has been targeted 39 times by vandals since 2019 and North Narrabeen Reserve Sports Amenities North, eight times.
While graffiti in Narrabeen and Pittwater wards has cost ratepayers $815,000 in the last five years, other damage is costing around $120,000 a year. That’s not taking into account other wards on the peninsula.
It comes as police launched a month-long youth crime blitz on the beaches, following complaints from the community about a spike in violent assaults and street robberies by teenagers, who have been labelled “delinquents”, by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller
Police, including the riot squad, were called to 140 incidents last weekend.
Officers, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, swarmed into the area on Friday and Saturday night, charging people with assault, offensive behaviour and a drug related offences.
Police also searched 32 people, issued “move on directions” to 26 individuals and inspected close to 60 pubs, bars and take away outlets.
Mr Fuller told 2GB last week that thuggish criminal and anti-social behaviour, including teens stealing phones and clothes off other teens and youths causing trouble at bus stops and fast food outlets, was increasing in the area.
“(But) the message is, ‘you’re time is done’,” Mr Fuller warned.
The Commissioner’s crackdown comes as the Manly Daily reported last weekend that parents and residents feared a criminal youth gang — or “eshay” — culture was emerging on the northern beaches after a recent spike in violent assaults and street robberies by teenagers.
Locals, especially on the northern end of the peninsula said that over recent months a growing number of young people have been intimidating members of the community, robbing other children of their clothes, money and mobile phones, and abusing people in the street and on buses.
Criminal youths often boast on social media about their drug use and carrying knives. Residents say eshays are behind multiple reports of children being “rolled” or robbed by groups of youths, some of them fuelled by on alcohol and drugs.
Last month a vicious fight at Newport Beach was caught on video, showing a group of young people allegedly kicking a man while he was cowering on the ground.
There have also been reports of people being abused on buses and people being threatened and intimidated by kids, some who have allegedly brandished knives.
On Tuesday two teenagers from outside the peninsula were arrested on assault and knife charges at Mona Vale.
Parents and other members of the community have voiced fears that a criminal youth gang – or eshay culture is emerging.
Other kids refer to these youths as eshays and “wannabe gangsters”, because of what they wear – distinctive designer clothes, the way they talk and because they act in an aggressive and intimidating way.
Cr Vincent De Luca, who requested the figures for vandalism from the council, said he would be putting forward a motion asking for council assets to be protected with fences and CCTV, including at Lakeside Park, in Narrabeen, which has become a haunt for youths, according to residents.
He said he had received a letter from residents in Lake Park Rd, who say teenagers shout and scream all night and bang on their doors.
“I am asking you for your assistance as we all fear the weekends,” one wrote.
Cr De Luca said he had put in a request to the council to install high security fencing and to lock the playground at night, install lighting and CCTV.
“Residents are writing to me because they’re petrified,” he said.
Det Insp Michael Boutouridis said residents should alert police if they are concerned and warned youths that last week’s police operation was not a one off and that it would be continuing.
Meanwhile Northern Beaches Commander, superintendent Pat Sharkey said while police had a number of proactive programs in place to engage with young people — including the RISEUP employment and education mentoring program — he urged residents to report crime when they see it.
“Police are there to help and cannot investigate a crime they’re not aware of,” he said.
“We will continue our focus on proactively identifying these problem areas and getting officers out there in high-visibility operations, to both deter and detect crime.”
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