Sutton: Calls to crack down on area’s crime rate

Their call for a crackdown on offenders comes after it emerged that theft, car crime and anti-social behaviour had all increased.

News of 3.4 per cent rise in crime from 1st April this year was revealed by the area’s policing team at a council meeting last week.

Coun Jason Zadrozny, Ashfield district councillor for Sutton North, said there is not enough resources in Sutton to tackle the rising rate of crime.

“Crime is such a big issue and it is difficult to say who is responsible for the rise,” he said.

“There used to be 22 community protection wardens working for the council and they very much have an on-street presence and help to deal with low level crime.

“That number is being reduced significantly and now there is about 15.

“People need to feel safe and that is not happening, they are feeling vulnerable.

“The council needs to keep the community wardens because they can address those fears.”

“Paddy Tipping’s drive to employ 150 police officers and 100 PCSOs has been a complete shambles. The number of police officers retiring or resigning outweighs the number that are being recruited and places like Ashfield do not have the police presence they need.”

Nationally, crime has gone up by two per cent and Nottinghamshire’s overall crime rate has also risen by 3.4 per cent.

Paddy Tipping, the police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire, said there has been a long period where crime has been slowing and it was inevitable that it would now begin to rise.

He said: “There is a number of reasons why crime is rising in Sutton and across the county. There has been a growing demand on police in phone calls and referrals.

“All public services are reducing their budgets and that is going to have an effect but we are recruiting more officers and Sutton will get their fair share.

“The chief officer and Chief Constable (Chris Eyre) in the area assure me they are on top of it and we have been looking at how we can reduce crime.

“We are focusing on shoplifting, robbery and burglary.

“We are determined to do what we can and we are working with the council to ensure police and council staff work closely together. We want to improve the already good relationship we have with the council.”

Police officers rolled out what operations would be put in place to reduce crime in their report to councillors at the Sutton Area Committee.

Coun Zadrozny said he is also currently sending out 45,000 crime surveys to all households across Ashfield to find out householders’ experiences and what they think the council should be doing to tackle crime.

Coun May Barsby, ward councillor for Sutton East, said: “After hearing the police report at our meeting, police are warning residents in Sutton East in particular to ensure all their valuables are removed from their car and to make sure that it is locked.

“Residents need to ensure that they are reporting and logging all crime to help the police do their jobs.

“We have always had a lot of crime in Sutton East and especially on Sutton Lawn. The police are doing everything they can but we are never going to get 100 per cent crime reduction.”