Priorities in order
Anti-social behaviour, drug taking and criminal damage top a list of residents’ concerns in Ollerton and Boughton.
The three issues were raised during a two-day safer neighbourhood public consultation outside the Co-op on Forest Road, Ollerton.
Around 50 people completed a form, asking for their top three concerns.
The area beat manager, Pc Colin Oakley, said the issues would be police priorities for the next six months.
Pc Oakley said: “We are trying to respond to what the public concerns are, as opposed to second guessing them.
“It is an opportunity for the public to say what they think is the biggest problem. It gives them an interest and a say.
“We will continue to do the things we do at the moment because they seem to be having a positive effect. People are saying things are getting better.”
Operations will continue to tackle underage drinking and anti-social behaviour on Friday evenings. Officers will patrol hot spot areas and target those individuals responsible.
Pc Oakley said anti-social behaviour contracts were being used. These are agreements between the police, Newark and Sherwood District Council, the young people concerned and their families.
Pc Oakley said: “Contracts are not enforceable but if someone refuses to accept it and their behaviour continues, we can use that refusal to add weight to an asbo application.
“We have noticed a further decrease in repeat offenders. Some people’s behaviour has changed significantly.
“I have found most parents see it as a positive thing. They say they are having problems and they appreciate the fact the police and district council are getting involved.”
Pc Oakley was not surprised anti-social behaviour topped the list because it covered a wide variety of bad behaviour.
He said often it was a perceived fear of crime or intimidation, rather that crime itself that worried people.
Pc Oakley said there were several drug addicts in Ollerton and Boughton and he appealed to residents to contact the police in confidence if they had any information about drug use.
He said although criminal damage was on the list of priorities, there had been a fall in the number of cases reported to police in the past six months.
He thought one of the reasons behind the fall was because beat managers for each area were responsible for investigating all criminal damage.
He said this meant he had got to know who the repeat offenders were and could target them.
Consultation forms are still available from Ollerton Police Station, Ollerton Town Hall and Ollerton Library for residents to have their say.
