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Residents air crime concerns at Southwell Safer Neighbourhood Group meeting as police say underreporting is an issue




A police officer says crime and anti-social behaviour is back on the rise in a town — but residents still aren’t reporting the issues.

Southwell’s Safer Neighbourhood Group met on Thursday, January 23, with members invited to attend and raise any concerns with a panel which included town councillor and chairman of the meeting, Peter Harris; Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood; PCSO Richard Dunn; and Newark and Sherwood District Council tenancy officer Mary Merrell.

A number of ongoing crime and anti-social behaviour issues were raised by attendees — and for the agencies responsible for tackling these, reporting remained a key issue to ensure data could support additional action in the town.

Southwell’s Safer Neighbourhood Group met at The Old Courthouse, where residents aired concerns to police and council representatives.
Southwell’s Safer Neighbourhood Group met at The Old Courthouse, where residents aired concerns to police and council representatives.

Inspector Ellam said: “Often we see underreporting. I have a finite number of resources to allocate across the district and reporting helps determine where they are allocated.

“It’s not lost on me that you have to have confidence in us to come to us with reports… part of the reason of me being here is to hear what concerns you have.

“We’ve had reports of anti-social behaviour — something as a team we are well versed in — speeding is raised consistently, theft, and criminal damage which is consistent across the district. Southwell is a lovely town with a thriving high street and while they’re lower-level crimes I understand if you’ve got a business there it has a big impact.”

Recent and ongoing issues highlighted during the meeting by PCSO Dunn included incidents of aggressive door to door sellers targeting vulnerable and elderly residents, thefts from businesses, vehicle damage and theft, bike theft, large groups walking around in balaclavas/masks which appear ‘frightening’ at night-time, an incident where a businesses letter box was spat through and sexually explicit things shouted at female staff members, and school pupils lighting aerosol cans and directing the large flames towards other young people at a park.

He added: “Last year we saw probably the worst eight months I’ve seen in 16 years here, and it’s started up again… but a lot of people are still not reporting these issues.”

He noted that people would stop him on his beat rounds and mention things that had happened — but they had not made a report to 101 at the time of the incident. He added that the force is evidence based, and so while he understood it is frustrating for victims when their case can’t be progressed due to lack of evidence, the report was still important to help build a record and pattern of areas where additional resources would be justified.

Inspector Ellam added: “The important thing for me is that matters are reported effectively so when I go to my bosses and ask for more resources, or more support, I can back that up.

“We also have a problem with social media, there’s things reported on there that have not come through to us — the message has to be that if things are happening you need to report them to us through the proper channels.”

The data from reports, it was explained, could help towards getting support such as additional patrols or CCTV cameras in the hotspot areas — although Mr Harris noted that for the size of Southwell’s population it had “a reasonable share” of district council-owned CCTV cameras.

One resident added that Southwell was an “affluent area” and shouldn’t be experiencing these crimes, while another had raised concern that they “expected to be burgled in St Anns, not Southwell” to which PCSO Dunn responded: “There’s burglaries in Kensington, and they even get burglaries at Buckingham Palace.”

Residents further raised concerns about ongoing anti-social behaviour concerns relating to a council property in the town — with those present asking if something could be done and if they “have to put up with it”.

Tenancy officer Mary Merrell again emphasised that, despite handing out leaflets about reporting issues to neighbours and hearing about concerns, she had received no official reports of any tenancy breaches, which meant she had been unable to justify taking any action or making frequent visits to the property.

In a bid to find a way forward with residents’ concerns about the tenants and the property, it was agreed for the police and council tenancy and anti-social behaviour officers to jointly explore what other action could be taken if appropriate — and residents were again asked to ensure they report any incidents to assist this.

Reports of crime should be made to the police on 101, online via the Nottinghamshire Police website, or 999 in an emergency only.

They can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or the Crimestoppers website.

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to Newark and Sherwood District Council on 01636 650000 or via the online anti-social behaviour reporting form.

To report issues relating to a council property or tenant, email customerservices@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk or call 01636 650000.



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