News

Gravel Hill police accepted a football challenge at the weekend on the condition that local teens help to remove graffiti and litter from Adastral Square and Ashdown Leisure Centre. The event was organised in response to the recent spate of anti-social behaviour that had been affecting the local neighbourhood.

Over twenty teenagers took on the challenge and set to work alongside local businesses using the donated clean up kits and the new community graffiti removal kits launched by the Borough of Poole. It took the volunteers an hour to clean off all the graffiti affecting the local buildings and give the area a general tidy up.

Once the clean up was complete the football match began with the youngsters efforts being rewarded with a triumphant 4-2 win. PC Guy Nicholas, who organised the event in partnership with the Borough of Poole and local businesses, said: "It's gone extremely well. The teenagers have done a fantastic job cleaning up the area. I hope that the kids will now continue to take responsibility for the area in which they live and that it may provide an incentive for more positive action for the area in the future."

Cllr Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole, said: "The Borough of Poole fully supports the efforts of the police and local residents to tackle anti-social behaviour. I am especially pleased to see the Borough's community graffiti removal kits being put to such good use. The results are very impressive. In an effort to further improve the appearance of the area the Council will also be replacing the vandalised public litter bins early in the new year. I hope other groups will see the success of this teamwork and organise similar events in their areas."