Richmond, due to its low crime rates and high property prices has gained a middle-class reputation. However, despite this it has come to my attention that it has become a popular location for youths at night. One can only ask what is the attraction of Richmond? Is it the alleged safety of the area? Do some teenagers target it as an easy area to carry out robbery? Either way, the increased numbers of youths is coupled with an increase in criminal activity on Friday and Saturday nights.

Amongst the many, one altercation stands out as disconcerting for the citizens of Richmond. In the local McDonalds, a boy was threatened and mugged. A group of hooded teenagers thought to be older than the victim were outside the fast food restaurant. They began intimidating the victim and his friends by banging on the windows and beckoning them to come outside. Sensibly, the three boys stayed inside; obviously assuming they would be safer there. After tiring of being ignored the aggressors came inside and confronted their target, grabbing the hair of the victim and demanding that he and his friends go outside. After refusing, the victim was robbed inside McDonalds for £5. The victims then ran into a police officer, whom they reported the incident to. The police took the crime very seriously and drove the boys around Richmond looking for the criminals, but to no avail. Despite this and despite the fact the McDonalds staff were reportedly very unhelpful, it is encouraging to see the police care about these sort of occurrences.

Popular areas of congregation seem to be Richmond Green and Old Deer Park. Local residents have put in a large number of complaints about the noise levels and the trouble being caused in these areas but speaking to a teenager who is regularly in that area gives another side to the story, ‘‘It is not everyone that’s causing trouble, I only go to meet and catch up with my friends and it’s other people that are giving us a bad name. We frequently get dispersed by the police after a complaint from a local resident and although often we have done nothing we leave without any trouble.’’ When asked what the attraction of Richmond is, the youth answered, ‘‘I don’t really know, we’ve just always gone there, although some of my friends are considering going elsewhere as recently it’s been pretty dangerous there.’’ So, no real conclusion on why this is a popular hang-out but I think in terms of the danger posed by these teenagers to residents and indeed other teenagers, the risk is minimal with seemingly only a few intent on causing trouble.