Tala Square damage to toilets etc

[Mike.1940]

A few years ago you could go up to the Square and not be bothered by the youths up there. Generally speaking they knew how to behave but of late a newer generation are flexing their muscles and have become a nuisance at times. This seems to be a modern thing not only in Cyprus but all over the UK as well. I hope the residents through gossip will find out who they are and perhaps inform the Police who might be able to pay some attention.

[Dominic]

Why do you need to know who they are? Surely you can inform the police if wrongdoing is occurring without knowing who is doing it.

[PaphosAL]

Thanks, ronk! Interesting read all articles, actually... However, let's stay on topic!

After spending all that money refurbishing Tala Square, it would seem that now is the time to also pop a couple of high-level 24/7 CCTV cams in there as well, in order to deter these snotty-nosed little oiks who are trying to sabotage all this good work put in by THEIR community!

IE: Their parents have helped PAY for it, FCS! What is it with kids these days, where many of them just want to gang up, go round, cause trouble and commit criminal damage?

I wonder what Geoff would advise, were he still here? I can think of a few suggestions, but am holding back until you all proffer your opinions...

Cheers- AL

[PaphosAL]

Excellent response, thanks, ronk. Yes, usually in a village community, everyone knows everything that's going on, for sure!

Quiet and friendly word with the parents, and more often and not, nipped in the bud henceforth (after parents have read the Riot Act to their offspring, LOL!)

This approach has worked for me in the past few years. DO NOT get confrontational with the little sods, as they always want to escalate.. Try reasoning with their parents, in a friendly and reasoning manner, and voilá! Issue often solved!

Cheers- AL

[PhotoLady]

It's Easter in Cyprus remember, the time that all things that go bang.... most certainly setting off the Cypriot firecrackers in a small space like a toilet block would have made for one hell of an explosion!

I can't see it being an ongoing thing so hopefully it's a one off (but costly) incident - which inevitably will be paid for by the local residents in the long term.

Frustrating for all concerned and yes, someone will know who did it....

[galexinda]

On a similar note there has been more vandalism in Chloraka in recent days eg a deliberate fire started on a building site which necessitated a visit by the fire engine to put out and damp down the area and at the back of the small church near Oulas / Railway Inn several of the globes that are about 12 - 15 feet off the floor have been smashed and spread all over the children's play area.

[PaphosAL]

Drifting slightly off topic (sorry), but it would be very nice if the parents, who:

1. Enjoy a barbeque on a remote beach with their kids taught them to afterwards take ALL their litter back home with them, in a bin liner bag, then deposit it in the communal rubbish bin nearby their home, for the Council to empty (responsibly) every week? Rather than LITTER the beach...

2. Show their kids where to take an old Fridge or Cooker for proper Council Recycling / Disposal, rather than just dump it over the nearest ravine?

3. Teach their kids: When in our beautiful Cyprus countryside, LEAVE nothing except your footprints! TAKE nothing except photos...

My physolosphy, for what it might be worth for present and future generations.. Note that in Dom's blogs, he generally takes a rubbish sack with him, and usually fills it from out in the wilds! Sad...

Cheers- AL

[PeteandSylvi]

I agree too Al. Id also like to catch the idiots who take the trouble to collect all the cans, wrappers and other rubbish inside their twin cabs, wrap and tie them in a carrier bag and then instead of dropping it into one of the many green bins in our area, simply hurl it out of the window onto the road.

Pete

[trevnhil]

Oh... So it's not just the main roads that suffer from this blight..!!

Trev..

[WHL]

In the great scheme of things, I can live with some kids letting off a bit of steam, rather then seeing what some of the evil stuff,youth in other parts of the World get up too, I think some of us conveniently forget what tricks we got up to in our youth.

[PhotoLady]

WHL.... Much of my youth was spent in getting up to no good. Nothing too bad although I was brought home by a policeman at the age of 3 after hurtling across the road on my trike in front of his car. It was a very steep hill we lived on and my bike was one of those with the pedals fixed to the front wheel. Only one thing for it on that occasion - feet off the pedals and let the bike fly

We lived on a street with a row of police houses opposite...

Speed has always been one of my things..... Never been caught yet

[WHL]

WHL.... Much of my youth was spent in getting up to no good. Nothing too bad although I was brought home by a policeman at the age of 3 after hurtling across the road on my trike in front of his car. It was a very steep hill we lived on and my bike was one of those with the pedals fixed to the front wheel. Only one thing for it on that occasion - feet off the pedals and let the bike fly

We lived on a street with a row of police houses opposite...

Speed has always been one of my things..... Never been caught yet

Knock down Ginger, banging on peoples front doors, then legging it was a staple, broke a few windows, playing football on a bowls lawn, and getting chased by the parky...mate of mine let of the school fire alarm once to get off lessons, all hell broke loose, fire engines turned up...thank God there was no CCTV back in the day

[Poppy]

There has always been trouble with Tala kids and more serious than normal kids high jinks I can assure you. You definitely would get short thrift fron their parents if you approached them. The former Muchtar Angelos was a member of EOKA in his youth and hated Brits although he pretended to like you because he had a business that depended on Brits. He was well aware of the "problem" families and in fairness he did attempt to resolve the issues without much success. I believe Areti is much more accepting of other nationalities and works hard for the benefit of all in the community. In Tala there is also a divide between cypriot families and I remember well when one family feud resulted in one guy shooring the other in the foot.

[PhotoLady]

I seem to recall forum posts about issues with the local kids in Pissouri village too - not so much about vandalism but for attacking other non-resident kids who came out during holidays to spend time with family / grandparents etc...

Funnily enough, on our train journey back to Poulton from Bolton the other weekend we were sitting opposite a couple of lads and got chatting and when we mentioned we'd living in Cyprus for 12yrs he started telling us these very same problems his girlfriends' parents had experienced in Pissouri village when they lived there up until a couple of years ago.

It's certainly something we didn't experience where we lived - other than spray painted graffiti on walls.

[Lofos-Jan]

There has always been trouble with Tala kids and more serious than normal kids high jinks I can assure you.

Perhaps better to say 'some' Tala kids. My children are Tala kids and they and many of their friends are very good kids who I can assure you are not interested in the slightest in vandalising stuff or upsetting people.

Jeanne

[Poppy]

I apologise Jan! I know many of the kids are fine and should not have posted as though I meant all the kids in Tala. I'm sure you know the families I mean though.

[Lofos-Jan]

Hi Ronk

As Poppy said in her follow up, there is a group of families and their offspring who tend to cause some problems at times. This is the same in every village and town pretty much worldwide I am sure. To be fair though, the trouble doesn't usually extend to thieving, mugging, drug dealing and assaults which is what problem families in my old west London local streets used to bring us on a regular basis (and I am so glad my kids were brought up here rather than there). Most of the village witnessed those who were setting off the bangers over Easter and could probably make a good guess at the perpetrators of the damage. But proof is of course the issue here.

Jeanne