ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour is once again a problem in Camelford, according to the town's police sergeant. He attended the May 19 meeting of the town council to outline plans to tackle the issue, writes Suzanne Cleave.

The meeting was attended by Camelford Police Sergeant Paul Jones and Andy Lewis, Sector Inspector for Camelford, Launceston and Bude.

Insp Lewis thanked the council for inviting him to the meeting, and explained that he had seen a copy of Mr Groves' email outlining the problems surrounding crime and anti-social behaviour in the town.

"I'm here tonight not to make excuses about why that may be the case but to deliver to you how we're going to tackle it and how your concerns are being addressed."

Insp Lewis told the council that he would hate to see a negative outlook generated about Camelford, as the town has low crime.

issues

"We will demonstrate to you tonight our commitment to listen to what you said to us and address the issues you brought up to us."

Concerns that the streets are not safe to walk and that police had lost control of what's going on in the town were disputed by Insp Lewis, but he added: "I don't think that's the case but you live here. It's your town, you have to live here."

He urged people to give the police any information on any crimes or nuisances as soon as possible, and added: "We rely live and breath intelligence and information from the public. We are really pared down the bone with resources and have to rely on information that you do have. As you'll appreciate, there's a lot of things going on. We need to know about these things; if we're about these things then we can address it. If we can get information to build a picture, we can start to point our resources to that in an effective way. We really need as much information as you can get together.

"I haven't got a police officer on every street as you know and without a police officer on every street we can't know that these things are happening. If you tell us and we don't do anything then you've got the right to criticise us. The commitment is there to do our very best for you. We really can, with the right information, start to make some inroads."

Mayor of Camelford, Cllr Lush told the officers that on the Friday night prior to the meeting, members of staff at the Co-op stores had their cars 'egged.' He noted that at a recent police liaison meeting, he spoke to a senior officer from Liskeard who told him there would be 17 more police officers to police the area, and Camelford needed one more police officer to work from the station.

"We know that you're under strength and you can't cope with what you're getting," he added. "We're not accusing you of neglecting your duty but something up the line is not giving."

Sgt Jones told the meeting that Camelford Police Station has four response officers, a Neighbourhood Beat Manager, two Police Community Support Officers, a front desk inquiry officer and two Special Constables.

He explained that the town has the second highest crime reduction in the force for 2008/09, a 34 per cent overall reduction with a 50 per cent reduction in violent crime.

interaction

Sgt Jones said a lot of the success has been down to the PCSOs and their interaction with the local youths, as once you get to the source, it has a knock-on effect.

A PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting will be held on July 8 in Camelford, to discuss current town priorities. He stressed that PACT meetings in the past have been poorly attended, and as such, any priorities set out are often the views of a minority. He urged as many people to attend as possible.

Anti-social behaviour in the town centre, he said, has been identified as an issue, and he added: "It was a problem 12 to 18 months ago and it appeared to go away but it's back. However, some of the reports that are coming back to me about incidents that are alleged to have gone on are grossly exaggerated and do nothing to help the town."

He said over the last few months, there have been seven incident logs in the town centre. Five of these were anti-social behaviour related and from these three crimes were generated — an assault, an incident of criminal damage and a theft of a motor vehicle. All three were detected.

"Small figures and 100 per cent detection rates show we're doing something."

He informed the councillors of his plans for forthcoming Friday nights, including police shift patterns which will be altered slightly, and on those nights, two response officers will be available as opposed to one.

The beat manager will work an extra Friday evening and Sgt Jones himself will work an extra Friday evening. The PCSOs will also be utilised.

Sgt Jones said, in the short term, a Target Intervention Team from Liskeard (who work in areas where there are problems) will be in the town on a number of Fridays over the coming weeks to deal with any issues they come across.

"Over the next few weeks you're going to see more visible police presence."

Officers will also be able to use the Section 27 notice, which acts like a parking ticket, and anyone causing a nuisance who is given a notice will be ordered to leave the area and not return within a certain time. If they break the conditions and return to the area, they can be arrested.

Parents of offending youths will be contacted by officers to collect their

children, and if they do not, Social Services will be contacted.

With regards to alcohol, Sgt Jones said surprisingly not that many are seen drinking, and if they are, the alcohol is confiscated. Parents will be informed of plans by a leaflet drop through the school.

"In the main in the area the parents will support us I believe and will do something if their child is found in such a position."

His only concern was with the youths themselves, as he added: "Unfortunately for them, they're in an area where there's no great facilities. We've got to think about what we can provide."

Cllr Robert Rotchell gave a list of the local facilities the council had supported, including the scouts, guides, football club, all weather pitch, money to buy rollerskates, the town band, Enfield Park refurbishment and a fitness trail around the park. The council are also working with the Cornwall Council Youth Leader and have formed a youth council.

"In one year we've done that. The council have pulled their finger out about this."

AFRAID

Cllr Rotchell said it sometimes not necessarily crime, but the perception of intimidation. He knew of a couple of elderly people living in Anvil Court who were afraid to go to the Co-op.

He also told the officers about youths riding their bikes on the streets with no lights; litter bins being trashed; a dog bin being uprooted on the pavement; and a trolley being pushed down Fore Street at 11pm on a Friday night.

Insp Lewis said: "Perception is harder to deal with."

The officers said that as well as the other measures, they hoped to get more officers out on foot a lot more.

Cllr Lush thanked Insp Lewis and Sgt Jones for attending the meeting.