• I HAVE lived for 12 years on our Camden Council housing estate and, once again, a new group of youths has begun to take root here.

I presume, and hope, past groups have grown up and are leading productive lives. This summer has brought a new breed.

The children’s playground has become a no-go area. Other pockets of the estate are also suffering, with litter, smoking, drug paraphernalia, footballs kicked around, and loud voices.

A couple of weeks ago I phoned the Camden patrol twice. The first time they arrived too late, the second they phoned me because they couldn’t find the block.

Frustrated by this, the cleaning up and having to be up early for work, I phoned 101 on August 5. I was called about 45 minutes after my call, the operator apologised as no units were available at first and he would send one.

I also tried speaking to the youths, but that didn’t go well. On August 6 I phoned 101 again. The voices / noise was out of sight, but I knew the youths were nearby. I explained the nuances of the estate, the problem areas and where to find it on the map (if you come in via the front, they will run off out the back).

So to August 8 at 7pm. I again have to rise at 2.30am (my neighbour gets up even earlier). I phoned 101 about youths in the playground.

The operator said that based on the information he would not be dispatching a unit, there was a lack of resources – and I can sympathise, there was a major flood in Holloway Road – and to contact the council as this was not something for the emergency services. I argued that I had called 101 and not 999.

I had tried the online form while on hold but that told me to contact the council. A police Safer Neighbourhoods Team (I spoke to that unit over two years ago, they mentioned regular patrols and a leaflet, but I think my contact has left). An e-mail address also didn’t help – the auto-reply mentioned the large volume of e-mails received incorrectly and deletion – and a link to check on my area cover was broken.

I called the Camden patrol. Did anyone attend? The youths then started kicking a football around the estate but luckily they left by 8.15pm. Roll on the next time. Can readers help? Help is not easy to come by elsewhere.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED