In October, police released CCTV images of a gang of up to 50 youths thought to be terrorising people in Swindon town centre. Some local teenagers fear they are being tarred with the same brush. Here they have their say.

POLICE released CCTV images of youths hanging about in Swindon town centre saying they wanted to track down those responsible for a series of crimes such as robbery and criminal damage.

The Advertiser published the pictures under the heading dumb and dangerous' in a bid to help officers find the troublemakers.

Now those responsible have been identified by the police.

However, the negative publicity has angered teenagers and youth workers in the town, who fear the bad image will stick to all young people.

Julia Graw, who volunteers for Youth Information Swindon, says many of the young people she deals with face a complex range of disadvantages and social exclusion.

She said: "I feel very angered by the Adver's article labelled dumb and dangerous'.

"As someone who works with young people on a daily basis, I am under no illusions about the trouble that can be caused by some young people.

"However, these people are very much in the minority and I felt that your article unfairly targeted all young people who hang out in our town centre.

"Labelling young people as "dumb" was unnecessary and will just increase the discrimination that is faced by so many young people in our community. We work with young people in Swindon, who at first glance may be stereotyped as being troublemakers, but who do very good work for this charity."

Marie Manser, who is the project co-ordinator for the youth service, said the aim was to empower those who are vulnerable and excluded from mainstream services.

"Young people on a daily basis drop in to YIS and many of them are understandably feeling disappointed and upset by the negative light young people are often portrayed in by the media," she said.

"They think it's unfair that young people are targeted as troublemakers and they feel frustrated because they are not in a position to voice their feelings, particularly as they don't feel like they will actually be heard.

"As a project we continually consult with young people and put them at the heart of what we do.

"Young people help shape the programmes, training and activities that we offer and though some of the young people we work with have been in trouble surely it's about trying to understand what's happened in that young person's life to contribute to the young person's troubling behaviour."

She added: "If you can begin to understand the young person and the issues that they face, even if it just manifests itself as boredom, then you can begin to work with the individual to help them make more informed and effective life choices."

Marie says that youth projects support young people, while helping to develop their confidence, decision- making and sense of responsibility.

She said: "Reports on young people continually causing problems in Swindon just marginalises young people even more and this fuels the issues of young people not feeling part of or accepted by their community.

"YIS in partnership with Swindon Youth Service helped support some young people to write letters in response to the recent articles in the Swindon Advertiser."

YIS gives support and advice to people aged 14 to 25. If you are interested in finding out more, contact Marie on 01793 496969.

Answering back

YOUNG people aren't all bad. Most people are judging us for what the minority of teens do. Don't be so harsh and unfair.

My friends and I feel bullied and are afraid we scare people when we are innocently walking to school and to the shops. We teenagers who are doing nothing wrong feel labelled and are hurt that our community thinks badly of us.

We will stand up for ourselves until we are heard nationally.

  • Bethany Reid, 13, of Freshbrook.

In response to the article in the Swindon Advertiser about teenagers, I think that it is very discriminative against teens. We have always been told growing up that we should respect our elders.

I think that you should be respecting us by not labelling all youths as one by calling us "dumb and dangerous". I was brought up with respect for my elders and for authority.

I would never and have never disrespected the elderly or authority and think it is extremely harsh for all youths to be grouped together.

Not every youth has a stable environment to go home to so young people find comfort in standing on the streets, or sitting in a park.

Elderly people needn't cross the road to get away from us. We are likely to be innocent and we could learn from each other.

  • Hope Stroud, 14, of Park South.

In reference to the recent article about the teenage gangs, I would like to comment on what's been said.

Firstly the paragraph with the young people and the label "dumb and dangerous" I find offensive.

There is a small minority of young people causing trouble which is terrible, but I want to represent other young people by saying I feel what you've previously said is labelling all young people.

Young people have to congregate in the streets, as there are not many places for the youth to go.

We enjoy hanging around with each other. Not all young people intend to cause trouble.

I felt strongly about making this point made.

  • Alex Tasker, 13, of Freshbrook.

Speak up

Do you think young people are the victims of bad publicity? What would you like to see done to improve teenagers' image? Join the debate in our online forum