Frustrated young people met politicians at meeting about a police presence at Gamlegården

Ulf Johansson and some people from the 'Tillsammans för Kristianstad' group are meeting Annelie Karlsson,(S), member of parliament, and Therese Sturesson, vice-chairman of the culture and leisure committee, at Gamlegården.

Together for Kristianstad wants to put forward the demand for a local police officer.They have gathered in 1095 names during the autumn to support their demand.

A group of youths of various ages gathers, curious to find out what is going on.

– What are you doing out here?You must find jobs for these young people, the 15 - 20 -year-olds, they all just sit around here, asks a man in his 30's, who has a job himself.

– We're working on it, on our youth leisure centres too, so that they are attractive for all age-groups, answers Therese Sturesson (S).

Ulf Johansson raises the topic that people are unwilling to go into the shopping centre at Gamlegården. He mentions car-fires, and that parents tell their children to keep quiet if they have seen anything.

– It's no trouble for the police to send patrols or a helicopter out here, but they can't open a police station,he says, that would be something to give people a greater sense of security.

_ It isn't just about the police,it's about giving young people more to do than simply hang around here, says Annelie Karlsson.

– There are more policemen here than leisure leaders and politicians, so that young people can get beaten up, says a young man in his early 20's who is very angry.

Therese Srturesson asks:

– What is it that you need?

– My little brother, says the 20-year-old, as soon as he's 19 he won't be allowed to go to the leisure centre. And they're only open until 8 in the evening, In Malmö there's Fryshuset, they help you there to find a job, there's nothing here, it's only on Friday evenings when they have late-night football, he says.

– That's just the kind of thing we need to know, you who live here, we need that kind of input, says Therese Sturesson.

_ We've actually just discussed that and talked it over with Fritidsdgårdsforum, about how important it is that the older groups have something to do as well. And they agree with us, says Therese Sturessson.

– Would it have been all right with police here? she asks.

– No, they'd just have fucked people up even more, says one youth.

Christopher Lorentzson agrees about the need for local police.

– Better with police who can instil a feeling of trust, have personal contact with people living in the area and don'tjust march in and play Rambo if they want to make a body search of someone, he says.

Several young men assure us that the area is good in many respects. - people help one another, the big play area is popular, and so on-

– The people living here aren't bad people, it's a fine district, he says.

Annelie Karlsson, what do you say to the demand for a local police officer at Gamlegården?

– I don't want to tell the police how to organise their work.. I'm not qualified to say what they should do. But I intend to discuss the matter further, she says.