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7 months ago
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Hundreds of neighbours have demanded answers over why their sleepy village has become lawless following a wave of crime over the Easter weekend.
Shocking footage emerged on social media of a group of teenage girls assaulting an emergency worker after sparking a huge brawl at the station in Barnham, West Sussex.
Within 48 hours, a second clip went viral of another group of young girls appearing to loot the village's local Co-op.
It sent shockwaves through the leafy village, which sits just six miles from the coast, to the point where an emergency public meeting was held to address local fears.
More than 200 people attended and told councillors how they are now too afraid to leave their homes as a result of the behaviour of the cannabis-smoking gang of girls.
The emergency public meeting was called following two incidents over the weekend. On Easter Saturday four teenager girls (left) were arrested for assaulting an emergency worker. Less than 48 hours later another group of girls were filmed allegedly shoplifting from Barnham Co-op (right)
An emergency public meeting to address the surge in antisocial behaviour was attended by more than 200 residents of Barnham, West Sussex
Following the Easter Saturday attack, Sussex police were granted a dispersal order after the film went viral
The meeting heard there were only 39 police officers on duty for the whole of West Sussex on Easter Saturday, which led one man to ask: 'What is the point of reporting these incidents when nothing happens?'
Sussex Police said violent disorder and shoplifting in Barnham is largely committed by young people from out of the area.
The four girls arrested for the train station attack were not from Barnham and they have been bailed with conditions to prevent them travelling to the village.
One taxi driver told the meeting he had been attacked in his own cab by youths who were travelling between train stations.
The force released a statement addressing growing public anger on Thursday, in which it revealed it had made a dozen arrests in connection with anti-social behaviour in the Barnham area.
A local shopkeeper, who wished not to be named for fear of reprisals said: 'What I don't understand is why there were no police here after the dispersal notice was in force.
'Even if they'd just parked a van next to the station, that would have been something.'
The shopkeeper also claimed the village is plagued with feral youth who exploit the south coast train network.
Barnham is a railway hub near Bognor Regis where train lines converge. Residents who spoke at the public meeting on Thursday night said they believe train connections make their village a soft target.
A railway worker, who asked not to be named, shared the villager's concerns. He said: 'They just think there's nothing you can do.
A group of teenagers hanging around in Barnham. Sussex Police say violent disorder and shoplifting in Barnham is largely committed by young people from out of the area
Barnham Railway Station. Residents who spoke at the public meeting on Thursday night said they believe train connections make their village a soft target
'One kid just stood there and shouted at me to open the f****** barrier.
'What am I supposed to do? Half the time they've got balaclavas on so you can't identify them and how do I know who has a knife?'
Local councillor Sue Wallsgrove said: 'A lot of these children are travelling on the train system and by bus coming into the area.
Cllr Wallsgrove acknowledged the plight of crime impacting people's day-to-day lives in Barnham. She went as far to say people are afraid to leave the house.
The Green Party group leader said: 'People want to know what the police are doing.
'We've got a few residents who are freighted to go out at night.
'Feelings are running very, very high at the moment which is such a shame because there is a real community feeling in Barnham.
'The police have been doing quite a lot, they have been turning up and dealing with it.
'Our PCSOs have done a lot.'
Bognor Regis councillor Paul Wells said he reported incidents in Bognor Regis which he believed were linked to the latest violence in Barnham.
Police and other public officials at the public meeting on Thursday evening. Angry residents at the public meeting were told there were only 39 police officers on duty for the whole of West Sussex on Easter Saturday
Four girls - aged 13, 14, 15 and 16 - were arrested at Barnham Railway Station on Saturday evening on suspicion of offences including assaulting an emergency worker and possession of cannabis.
On Easter Monday, a video posted to X showed a group of teenage girls allegedly shoplifting from Farnham Co-op.
Cllr Wells said: 'We had incidents in Bognor which we think were related to the incidents later in Barnham.
'But there were no resources deployed to it.'
Cllr Wells said Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne should be held accountable.
He said: 'The PCC has a lot to answer for.
'We've had the promise of more officers over the years but we don't see them.
Cllr Wells added: 'We know resources are stretched but when you've not got police officers in a town patrolling, it creates a safe haven for these youngsters to behave they way they want to.
'It creates resentment in the community.
'What's the point of reporting crime if it just doesn't go anywhere?
'I know there has been multi agency work to try and resolve some of the issues but lack of police to enforce anything, the problems persist.'
Barnham Co-op where the alleged shoplifting occurred. A spokesperson for the store confirmed that the incident happened on Monday April 1 and he claimed the girls took 'cans of Red Bull' without paying
The emergency meeting in Barnham. Cllr Wallsgrove acknowledged the plight of crime impacting people's day-to-day lives in Barnham. She went as far to say people are afraid to leave the house
To combat crime in the area, Sussex Police said they are working with British Transport Police, Southern Rail, local authorities, schools, and businesses.
British Transport Police, who operate on the rail network, and train operators have tracked a group they dubbed the West Coast Nominals for more than two years.
The group has included brothers Archie and George Tilley who were jailed for 12 years each for attacking Alan Willson in 2021. The father from Worthing was then left with life-changing brain injuries by the attack.
Sussex Police say Worthing and Adur District Council has posted Community Wardens to patrol Barnham and security staff at two supermarkets will be given walkie-talkies to communicate with train staff.
The police also said they made a dozen arrests in connection with anti-social behaviour in the Barnham area.
Three people have been charged and nine people will be dealt with by the Youth Offending Team following the Easter Bank Holiday disturbances.
Four Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) have been issued, nine people have been banned from entering the Co-op following reports of stealing, with five more people in the process of being banned.
Archie Tilley (left) and his brother George Tilley (left). British Transport Police have tracked a group they dubbed the West Coast Nominals for more than two years. The group has included the Tilley brothers who were jailed for 12 years each for attacking Alan Willson in 2021
Detective Sergeant Lou Baileff said: 'Barnham is a small and tight-knit community and we understand the impact this recent spate of behaviour is having on those who live, work and visit the village.
'We are using the full range of policing powers available to us to help prevent crime and officers are carrying out proactive and dedicated patrols to ensure a high visibility presence in the area providing a deterrent to criminals and reassurance to the community.
'In recent days, we have seen a rise of offences related to people travelling into the village from areas elsewhere in Sussex. We are working closely with British Transport Police to manage this and there are rail enforcement officers deployed to Barnham Railway Station six evenings a week to prevent and deter crime.'
A Section 34 dispersal order was authorised on Sunday 31 March following an incident of disorder at Barnham Railway Station on Saturday 30 March, in which members of the public, including security staff, and officers were assaulted.
An investigation is also underway into reported thefts from the Co-op store in The Square, Barnham, on Monday 1 April.
In a statement Sussex PCC said: 'Sussex Police quickly put a dispersal order in place over the busy Bank Holiday Weekend during which time officers were called upon to deal with violent incidents nearby.
'British Transport Police are responsible for policing the station and, whilst they have arrested and bailed the young females filmed in assaults at the weekend, I want to know why BTP appeared unable to step up a reassuring presence at the rail station following the assaults.'
'There has been a significant amount of Sussex Police activity targeting shoplifters and anti-social behaviour in and around Barnham with more than a dozen arrests. Sussex Police also followed up the reports of an incident at the local Co-op and have visited the store.'
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