AN ARSON victim has set up an action group to try to stop antisocial and criminal behaviour among youths.

As reported in The Press, Simon Gordon had his paving manufacturing business in Barfield Industrial Estate, New Lane, Huntington, destroyed in an arson attack in the early hours of last Sunday. A lawnmower repair business was also destroyed and the cost of the damage will run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Mr Gordon has now set up a group of local residents and businesses to get something done about local gangs.

Mr Gordon said: "We want those gangs taken off the streets. We want it stopped otherwise it could lead to vigilante groups being formed which no one wants to see. I don't want people taking the law into their own hands, but people want something done.

"We want the police to take action against these gangs for the sake of local residents and businesses in the area.

"We've got a lot of support from the public and we can have a group of local boxers and former soldiers patrolling these areas to identify troublemakers."

Insp Rich Hall, who is responsible for policing in the north of York said whenever hotspots of trouble are identified the police do crack down on them. He said: "There are, as in other areas of York, young people who are out on the streets and from time to time they commit antisocial behaviour. The Huntington area is covered by sergeants, constables and police community support officers who are actively working with others, including youth services, to target them.

"My staff work very closely with local councillors up there and as an when hot spots come to the fore we deal with them and tackle them."

Insp Hall said the arson attack it is being investigated by CID and the local neighbourhood policing team are liaising closely with them on the investigation.