UK Seaside Town Paignton Plagued by Crime, Youths Carrying Knives

Paignton was once a lovely seaside town found in Devon, part of the “English Riviera.” Now, it has problems with crime. People see anti-social behavior and youth violence often, with some reports even mentioning young kids, sometimes only nine years old, with knives.

Residents feel scared and say the town is not what it used to be. Gangs cause issues, shoplifting happens a lot, and there is public disorder. Everyday life feels dangerous now for many.

Paignton sits on the Torbay coast and used to be a great tourist spot. The beaches were nice and golden, there were fun things for families, and it felt peaceful back then.

Today, things changed, and “feral” youths roam the streets, scaring shop owners. Some even carry knives with them, and a dark cloud is over the town.

One local talked to a YouTuber, Wendell, who heard bad stories about Paignton. The local said kids might stab you, possibly for no clear reason and might be about twelve.

An eleven-year-old got arrested for being drunk and acting disorderly. Groups of kids vandalized shops and yelled at staff, and the town center is lawless, people say. Some are too afraid to go out at night.

Melvyn plays in the Salvation Army band and has lived there over sixty years. He remembers the town being beautiful and full of life. Now, he says, crime and neglect have taken over.

Melvyn came in 1963 and is eighty years old now. He says things are worse everywhere, though the council might lack money or spend it differently. In ’63, the gardens looked perfect, but now people feel uneasy and are not as relaxed.

The Crossways shopping center used to be iconic, but now it’s abandoned. Its decay shows the town’s decline, as the seafront was once busy with tourists. Now, gangs cause problems, youths throw stones from car park roofs, and underage girls attack pier staff.

Gangs use Paignton for drug operations and come from bigger cities, using kids to run drugs. Young people in Torbay become drug couriers, which makes crime even worse.

In 2023, Inspector Chris Lithgow spoke about this, saying they are dealing with violent youths and using the youth justice system. But, locals don’t feel much better, feeling the police ignore them and worry crime will worsen, needing urgent help.

Police have tried to crack down on crime and want to restore order, but many feel it’s too late. Paignton Police mentioned issues with youth gangs, which cause trouble in the town center and by the sea, stealing and threatening people.

Police escorted drunk teen girls off the pier, who were 14-15 years old after they attacked staff who told them to leave. Despite all problems, some still hope for Paignton.

They want tougher crime measures and youth programs, which might stop kids from joining gangs. They ask the council and police for action, and The Daily Express asked the council to comment.