Cr Penfold, and councillor Nicole Penfold, initiated the meeting after a wave of comments on social media urged Maitland City Council to do more about anti-social behaviour at the Rutherford shopping precinct. 

“I was heartened by the number of agencies and institutions taking notes on what residents had to say,” Cr Penfold said. 

He said the Rutherford Action Group will host a meeting later this month to address some of the issues raised. 

The overarching concern from residents at Thursday’s meeting was a group of pre-teen boys who were regularly harassing shoppers and store employees. 

One woman spoke of a group of eight boys, some in school uniform, who surrounded a wheelchair-bound woman and demanded cash. 

“The question being asked was ‘why are these pre-teens out in the dark of night’?” Cr Penfold said.

“If they are, the Department of Community Services needs to be looking at it.”

He said there was a community expectation the department take action on 10 and 11 year-olds roaming the streets on school nights. 

“I think there needs to be an immediate check on whether these children are living in a safe environment,” Cr Penfold said. 

“I think the majority are calling for that.” 

Residents at the meeting said they could identify the children who were causing 90 per cent of the trouble. 

Central Hunter crime manager, Detective Inspector John Zdrilic, called on residents to report all crime. 

“I am very encouraged by this forum and I think it’s great, you’re showing an active interest in your area and I think that’s important,” he said on Thursday. 

“If you see crime, if you experience crime, if there’s information that should be provided to us it should be provided to us.

“I need to know what’s happening in your area, I need to know what your concerns are and they’re the things I can address and develop strategies for, and they’re the things I can deploy police to.”

Information can be passed on to Maitland police station on 4934 0200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.