FRUSTRATED residents, who have seen increasing levels of crime in West Hill, are calling for similar initiatives which have worked in troubled Temple Hill.

Temple Hill, a notorious crime hot spot, has seen improvements following community action to tackle crime.

A community bobby has patrolled the streets for the last year and the Temple Hill community forum has brought police, councillors, residents and schools together in a fight against crime.

Increasing reports of criminal behaviour in West Hill, including cars being scratched and walls being pushed over, have seen police shift their attention there, with more police cars patrolling the area.

But residents say this is not enough and believe lessons learnt in Temple Hill could be copied in west Dartford.

Resident Ronnie Rogers, 51, said: "It's all very well putting patrols on late at night but it's only on certain nights of the week.

"I think having a residents' group and a street bobby as in Temple Hill would be a good idea because people are going to take the law into their own hands if something isn't done."

But Mrs Rogers added youngsters aged between 12 and 16 have nowhere to go with the YMCA closure. She said: "They just hang around and get into trouble."

Brian Shields, who ran a youth club for 10 years with his wife in Broomhill Road, recalled how it helped bring the community together and give youngsters something to do.

But the 63-year-old added: "It's lack of discipline all around starting from the home." He says he is a strong believer in having a community officer patrolling West Hill's streets. "There's nothing at the moment to stop the kids, and police never come down when we report disturbances," he said.

Chairman of Temple Hill Community Forum Bob Callaghan said the forum and other community groups have been successful.

He said: "People have met the police at community forum meetings and know who their local police officer is. Having him around has eased people's fears and he has made himself known, which partly explains the success of the forum."

The West Hill action group is setting up a petition. The group spokesman Sonia Keane said: "We want to make the council and the police aware we want something done."

lbrinicombe@london.newsquest.co.uk