January Police Liaison Committee Meeting

Yet another Police meeting on Ashmore Park . This time it is the Ashmore Park Police Liaison Committee who met at the Community Centre tonight 15th January 2008.

The background to the meeting is that crime in November has increased on Ashmore Park.

The police emphasised how criminal damage had pressed the figures upwards, and despite the fact that there was now extra police patrols on the estate, statistics show that crime had increased by an unwelcome 4%.

The statistics record that 405 crimes were committed at this same time last year, that figure had now risen to an individual 421 incidents!

The Police reported that within the crime figures the incidents of criminal damage had lifted the statistics to the current levels. The outbreak of this type of crime was being committed by gangs of local youths who were accessing booze (the police think illegally ).

Residents were concerned to hear of the police thoughts, and there was a very animated debate about where the youngsters were accessing the alcohol? Some residents suggested that parents of these local youths must know about their children's drinking habits?

Councillor Phil Bateman said "What is certain is that the police are working at full stretch to contain this bad behaviour. Everyone welcomed the police providing extra patrols. But there is a real need for the community to do its bit. Is there a local establishment that is supplying booze to these youngsters?

If so I think that we all want the police to know so that they can do something about it. Let's do all we can to stop this petty but very debilitating crime wave."