Police to target prostitution, drugs and graffiti crimes
Reducing street prostitution, tackling drugs and eliminating graffiti will form the three priorities of a police team in Northampton.
At a community panel meeting this week of the Castle Ward Safer Community Team – which covers Spring Boroughs, Semilong and St James – input from residents and officers on the policing team led to the three issues being picked as priorities for the next quarter.
The reduction of street prostitution in Spring Boroughs will continue to be a priority, with work by Northamptonshire Police and Sex Workers Around Northampton (Swan) having already significantly reduced the number of women working in the area.
Chairman of Spring Boroughs Residents' Association, Joe Joyce, said: "I think, with Spring Boroughs, it's been a long way to get to where we have.
"With the hard work of the team, prostitution has gone down a lot. It's not gone away, but I'd like to say thank you for all the hard work which has been done."
At the meeting, at Alliston Gardens Youth and Community Centre, Semilong, police said crime had fallen by seven per cent year on year, with burglary, criminal damage, drug offences, theft and handling incidents all down.
Violent crimes had fallen from 212 offences to 149 in a year, and while there had been an increase in sexual offence statistics, this was because of work done to catch kerb crawlers and reduce prostitution, which is registered as a sexual offence.
Meanwhile, police had carried out a survey of residents in the Castle ward, speaking to 381 people and recording their views.
A total of 195 of the people questioned said there were no problems in the area.
PC Mike Rogers, a member of the Castle Safer Community Team, said: "We have been working very closely with the local community to identify the issues which are a concern for them. We are very happy that almost half of the people questioned said they had experienced no problems.
"But we will not be complacent and will continue to work with our partners on the priorities chosen by the community."
He added: "If anyone has any information regarding these issues, please contact the Safer Community Team on 08453 700700 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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