VULNERABLE people were left cowering, waiting more than half an hour for police as youths attacked the building they were gathered in for a meeting.

Members of the volunteer and service user-led project Options For Living, which supports people with disabilities with social events and advocacy work, were in the premises in Sussex Square on Wednesday, November 12 when youths attacked the building.

Terrified, they bolted the doors and called 999.

They then waited more than half an hour before receiving a call back from the police control room to apologise for the delay.

Peter Mallinson, the chairman of the Walcot Charity Shop and Community Library, which owns the building the centre operates from, said: “On Thursday afternoon the lady from the charity that’s using our shop came along and told us about it because they’d ripped off the doorbell.

“There were two or three people in the building at the time when they heard them banging on the doors and the windows and shouting and trying to get inside.

“They were terrified, these are vulnerable people with all sorts of disabilities.

“They rang 999 and they waited 33 minutes for police to call back, and when they did they asked whether the youths were still there. When they said no, they said they weren’t going to send anyone.”

Anti-social behaviour – particularly from large groups of youths –has plagued businesses and residents in the area and in July a dispersal order was put on Sussex Square.

It applies to all groups of two or more people who congregate and are suspected of causing anti-social behaviour, and it was hoped it would give the police greater powers to move on youngsters thought to be causing a nuisance.

Peter said the problems in the area made him expect a more prompt police response.

“It is very worrying that there was such delay, especially around here,” he said.

“This is a deprived area and we do have problems with anti-social behaviour and it is a worry when the police don’t turn up when people are frightened and need help.”

A police spokesman said: “We can confirm that a call was received at 2.23pm on November 12, regarding youths causing a disturbance outside the centre.

“The call was graded as a priority and at the end of the call the person stated that the males were leaving, indicating that there was now no immediate risk.

“Unfortunately officers were resourced in other incidents at that time and the control room rang to apologise for the delay and check on the welfare of everyone in the centre.

“The youths had left the area and the local Neighbourhood Policing Team were tasked to visit to obtain further details.

“NPT officers have visited and inquiries into the actions of the youths are ongoing.”

Options For Living only moved to Sussex Square in September after funding from disability charity Scope for their previous office in Buckhurst Fields dried up .

Peter then allowed them to use the Walcot Charity Shop and Community Library’s empty premises opposite the library.