How one grandma took matters into her own hands to tackle antisocial behaviour in her community after her reports were ‘ignored’ by authorities
- Replies 9
As we age, the value of a safe and serene living space only grows. Yet, not all individuals share our reverence for peaceful surroundings. This can result in noise pollution, disturbances, and even safety concerns.
If you want to stay safe, your best bet is often to be aware of your surroundings and to immediately report any suspicious activities. But what do you do if something is going wrong in your neighbourhood, and nobody will do anything about it?
This is precisely the situation that a grandmother in Victoria Point, Queensland, was facing due to a group of teenage louts who were terrorising community members.
Despite Maria Sealy's repeated complaints to the Redland City Council about vandals in her neighbourhood, no action has been taken to address the issue.
The laneway beside her house has been a frequent target and despite her persistent efforts to report the vandalism, the problem persists.
So, she decided to take it into her own hands and install security cameras to capture the vandals roaming the hallowed Teak Lane.
But in an unexpected turn of events, the council eventually barred her from sending further reports!
'It's disgusting, to be honest,' she said.
'We were just like a target here, and we're right in the firing line.’
'Mainly, it was for us as a safety measure because we knew we needed some kind of surveillance, and the police knew something needed to be done here as well.'
So, Maria continued her surveillance but, this time, shared her footage in a Teak Lane Community Group.
The videos that she shared depict various incidents, including individuals entering the laneway late at night and recklessly hurling what appears to be bottles, motorcyclists using it as a convenient shortcut, youngsters uprooting recently planted trees, and, perhaps most disturbingly, local troublemakers who have discovered her security camera and frequently stop to ‘moon’ it.
While the lock gate and curfew helped a bit, Maria felt like it wasn't enough.
That was until the Redland City Council released a statement on April 26.
In the statement, titled 'Managing Unreasonable Complainant Conduct', the council apologised for blocking Maria from making reports and went on to announce additional security measures to help address the same complaints she'd been making.
The statement read: 'Council does not ban residents from visiting or contacting the organisation but, under extreme circumstances, can implement a communication plan to manage unreasonable complainant conduct.’
'This includes repeated reporting on the same issue. Council has been responding to issues raised by the resident about Teak Lane for more than 15 years.’
'Council has a duty of care to the community and to its employees, and if, over time, employees are receiving hundreds of complaints from the same person on the same issue, action can be taken to protect employee wellbeing.'
Teak Lane has also recently implemented changes to improve community safety, including extended daily gate closures from 4 pm to 7 am on weekdays and 3 pm to 8 am on weekends, set to take effect from late May.
In addition to daily locking and reopening of the gate, the City Council has also implemented site maintenance, improved lighting and signage, and enhanced access for security and law enforcement personnel.
In response to concerns about safety in the area, a spokesperson for the Queensland Police has affirmed the department's commitment to maintaining security.
The spokesperson shared that regular intelligence-led patrols and operations are conducted in Teak Lane and surrounding areas in collaboration with the district's crime prevention unit and local police.
The department has also taken action against individuals engaging in unlawful behaviour in the area.
One adult male was charged with wilful damage for allegedly vandalising a business on Colburn Ave, bordering Teak Lane, on March 14.
The accused appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court on April 14, and the case is ongoing.
Prior to this, a different man was issued an infringement notice for public nuisance in November of last year for allegedly exposing himself to CCTV cameras in Teak Lane.
Members, it’s stories like this one that remind us of the importance of community – if we watch out for each other and take action, our neighbourhoods can be safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
It’s also important to remember to stay vigilant – if you see any suspicious activity, you should contact the police or your local council.
Have you ever had a similar experience where you felt like you were ignored? Better yet, have you ever reported suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood? How did it go? Share your stories with other members in the comments section.
If you want to stay safe, your best bet is often to be aware of your surroundings and to immediately report any suspicious activities. But what do you do if something is going wrong in your neighbourhood, and nobody will do anything about it?
This is precisely the situation that a grandmother in Victoria Point, Queensland, was facing due to a group of teenage louts who were terrorising community members.
Despite Maria Sealy's repeated complaints to the Redland City Council about vandals in her neighbourhood, no action has been taken to address the issue.
The laneway beside her house has been a frequent target and despite her persistent efforts to report the vandalism, the problem persists.
Maria Sealy (left) installed CCTV on her nearby house to record instances of antisocial behaviour and shared the footage with the Redland City Council. Additionally, she directly confronts vandals when she encounters them. Credit: Facebook.
So, she decided to take it into her own hands and install security cameras to capture the vandals roaming the hallowed Teak Lane.
But in an unexpected turn of events, the council eventually barred her from sending further reports!
'It's disgusting, to be honest,' she said.
'We were just like a target here, and we're right in the firing line.’
'Mainly, it was for us as a safety measure because we knew we needed some kind of surveillance, and the police knew something needed to be done here as well.'
So, Maria continued her surveillance but, this time, shared her footage in a Teak Lane Community Group.
The videos that she shared depict various incidents, including individuals entering the laneway late at night and recklessly hurling what appears to be bottles, motorcyclists using it as a convenient shortcut, youngsters uprooting recently planted trees, and, perhaps most disturbingly, local troublemakers who have discovered her security camera and frequently stop to ‘moon’ it.
While the lock gate and curfew helped a bit, Maria felt like it wasn't enough.
That was until the Redland City Council released a statement on April 26.
In the statement, titled 'Managing Unreasonable Complainant Conduct', the council apologised for blocking Maria from making reports and went on to announce additional security measures to help address the same complaints she'd been making.
The statement read: 'Council does not ban residents from visiting or contacting the organisation but, under extreme circumstances, can implement a communication plan to manage unreasonable complainant conduct.’
'This includes repeated reporting on the same issue. Council has been responding to issues raised by the resident about Teak Lane for more than 15 years.’
'Council has a duty of care to the community and to its employees, and if, over time, employees are receiving hundreds of complaints from the same person on the same issue, action can be taken to protect employee wellbeing.'
Teak Lane has also recently implemented changes to improve community safety, including extended daily gate closures from 4 pm to 7 am on weekdays and 3 pm to 8 am on weekends, set to take effect from late May.
In addition to daily locking and reopening of the gate, the City Council has also implemented site maintenance, improved lighting and signage, and enhanced access for security and law enforcement personnel.
In response to concerns about safety in the area, a spokesperson for the Queensland Police has affirmed the department's commitment to maintaining security.
The spokesperson shared that regular intelligence-led patrols and operations are conducted in Teak Lane and surrounding areas in collaboration with the district's crime prevention unit and local police.
The department has also taken action against individuals engaging in unlawful behaviour in the area.
One adult male was charged with wilful damage for allegedly vandalising a business on Colburn Ave, bordering Teak Lane, on March 14.
The accused appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court on April 14, and the case is ongoing.
Prior to this, a different man was issued an infringement notice for public nuisance in November of last year for allegedly exposing himself to CCTV cameras in Teak Lane.
Important emergency services and reporting lines in Australia, including 000, Crime Stoppers, Police Assistance Line, National Security Hotline, Cybercrime Reporting, and Scamwatch. Credit: Seniors Discount Club.
Members, it’s stories like this one that remind us of the importance of community – if we watch out for each other and take action, our neighbourhoods can be safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
It’s also important to remember to stay vigilant – if you see any suspicious activity, you should contact the police or your local council.
Have you ever had a similar experience where you felt like you were ignored? Better yet, have you ever reported suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood? How did it go? Share your stories with other members in the comments section.
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