TOWN councillors heard on Wednesday, June 7, why there had been a worryingly high number of crimes committed in Holsworthy during March, writes Zoë Uglow.

PFCSO Mark James attended the full council meeting of Holsworthy Town Council recently to discuss some of the councillors concerns over the latest figures.

Mayor Jon Hutchings started proceedings by saying: “In reference to the frankly huge list of March crimes, what do you have to say — this quantity of crimes is certainly more than we are used to!”

Cllr Helen Parker added: “It is a shocking number of offences from what I can see!”

In response PFCSO James explained that the level of crime is nothing to worry about. He said: “As I have said before, month on month figures aren’t indicative of an increase. A number of those crimes listed have been down to one person. That person was a repeat offender and accounts for at least three of the crimes on there.”

He said that the individual’s behaviour had been a drain on local police services, adding: “They are not big offences but they are numerous and all need to be dealt with, taking up police time.”

PFCSO James explained that due to the transient population of Holsworthy and the nature of houses in the town thefts and public order offences have increased in recent months.

He said: “These tend to be from the same small group and mainly affect one another. The offences take place between themselves and haven’t interfered too much with the general population. But we will continue working hard, alongside the town council, to reduce crime and get levels back to where they were!”