Policing update at Southwell Safer Neighbourhood Group meeting revealed anti-social behaviour has ‘calmed’ but issues with reporting remain

While anti-social behaviour in Southwell has calmed, issues remain with residents posting on Facebook before reporting to the police.

In one case an incident had been shared on social media half-an-hour before being reported to police, meaning officers could not react as it happened.

Pc Deborah Bakin provided an update into policing activity in the town at it’s Safer Neighbourhood Group meeting, held on Thursday, September 12, and explained that reporting remained a key issue for the area.

“Anti-social behaviour has reduced — certainly reporting has,” Pc Bakin said.

“To be honest, reporting is still rubbish. For example, we had an incident down the road, and we were here [in the Old Courthouse offices] we could’ve gone down.

“It went on the community chat and a member of the public rang in 30 minutes later — you can see the time on the post.

“It’s no use nor ornament, for us it was an ‘attend when you can’ because they could’ve got miles away in half an hour.

“Put it on the chat by all means — but we need to know first.”

Additionally, officers have found it challenging to get residents living near known problem areas to help keep a log of incidents or provide CCTV footage.

“I understand why they don’t want to do it, for fear of reprisal. If you get CCTV footage from a house it’s clear where it came from,” she added.

“We’ve got to stand together as a community and as a town to deal with this.”

There were positives to report too, with the officer confirming anti-social behaviour in the area had “calmed down”.

Peter Harris, who chaired the meeting, added: “There’s some outliers, but your work seems to be having an effect.”

Work will also be continuing with further nights of action — in partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council’s housing team, community protection officers, and town council — planned for the coming months.

Preparations are also underway to mitigate poor behaviour around Halloween and bonfire night, with Nottinghamshire Police again to issue posters for those who don’t want trick-or-treaters to display, as well as the officers visiting shops in the town to encourage them not to sell eggs or flour to young people in the lead up to Halloween.