TONIGHT

Ann Widdecombe vs the Hoodies

Published: Monday, 17 December 2007, 4:43PM

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe returns to the Andover and Myatts Field estates in London in a follow-up to her controversial report for ITV1's Tonight.

In Ann Widdecombe vs the Hoodies aired earlier this year, the politician moved in with two different households on two housing estates to experience first hand the day-to-day reality for people she termed ‘the forgotten decents’ – the law-abiding residents in areas blighted by anti-social behaviour – and to investigate whether the agencies tasked with clamping down on it were making a difference.

In Andover, she met with a number of older residents who lived in fear of being targeted by youths. One woman told her how she has endured vandalism, fireworks aimed at her home and that her son had been beaten up.  One tenant even told Ann she had been too afraid to venture outside her home by herself for two years.  Another complained that it was not uncommon for her to find excrement outside her front door.

While police had increased patrols on the estate and the council-funded anti-social behaviour officers walked the streets at night, some tenants said not enough was being done to keep them safe.

The programme focused on the problems of crime faced by residents and their genuine fears of “hoodie“ youth culture.  But the report prompted local councillors and some youths from the estate to say that the programme was one sided and exaggerated conditions. 

Now , As part of Tonight’s end of the year report to air on December 21 at 8pm on ITV1, Ann returns to Andover to update viewers on what has happened since the cameras stopped rolling.

Ann says: “At the end of 2006 I visited the Andover area and met residents who claimed their lives were blighted by anti-social behaviour and complained little was being done by the authorities to tackle the problem.  Now, a year later, I'm returning to find out what has changed. 

Widdecombe Vs The Hoodies - Round Two: Tonight