(09 Sep 2022, 8:43 pm)Adrian wrote Metro has always been a problem with school-aged children on an evening and weekend, but it's not just the Metro. Bus stations are just as bad for it. I was at the Galleries this evening and there were about 20 kids hanging around there, with a couple of them riding around on bikes as people are waiting for a bus. The lack of a staff presence has always created this haven, and the lack of police coverage (due to political choice) makes it 10x worse.

Metro has claimed to have 'hired' staff to resolve this, but we could do without the hired thugs in police fancy dress that they seem to have gone for.

I think the amount of drunk people is becoming an increasing problem, but I wouldn't personally link it to the longer licensing hours. It's more a product of homelessness, and you don't exactly have to go very far to see the extent of the problem these days. I was in Northumberland Street before 9am this morning and you had drunk homeless people fighting each other. It's a massive problem, which again is exasperated by political choice. I do think Kim McGuiness is going down the correct path with this, in terms of a multi-agency response to trying to tackle the problem, rather than the usual single-focused approach of criminalising everyone.

Where are the parents that what i want to know.... although looking back i could have been classed as a bit of a tearaway in my younger days.

I was at gateshead a few weeks ago and the security guard was actually standing chatting to these youngster whilst they road around on their scooters and bikes in the interchange.... and the language made me blush!. Maybe he doesn't get paid enough to deal with all that carp or maybe funds should be found to have police ride the metros on an evening>?