There seems to be a spike in crime and anti social behaviour locally.  We are fortunate enough to still live in one of the safest parts of the country but it’s important to tackle these issues before they escalate.

I organised a meeting with the police, our MP, Ian Sollom and District Councillors Sunita Hansraj and Martin Cahn to discuss this.

We asked about recent incidents of anti social behaviour and crime in Kings Meadow, Orchard Park, along the busway and in Histon & Impington. We mentioned a mugging on the busway, bike theft, drug dealing, violence, illegal use of the busway and significant vandalism.

I asked what the police were doing and if they could give us more detail about what was going on. South Cambridgeshire Police told us that currently the data isn’t showing a lot going on here, more reports are coming in from other parts of the district so they are focussing on other areas. 

They were very clear if there are issues Report, Report, Report.  They will go to the place with the most reports.   

I hear frustration echoed back from the community that when they report things it feels like a waste of time but it’s not it’s about building a picture.   Reports are unlikely to lead to a criminal prosecution but they highlight patterns of behaviours.  They are how we get police attention.

If you see what you think is a drug deal Report it, if you see groups of people with baseball bats Report it, if you see motorbikes on the busway maintenance track Report it. Report, Report, Report.

Through other channels I know the police are doing things here; family contracts have been issued in Kings Meadow and they are now patrolling the busway.

That said the Police and Crime, Commissioner asked me to email his office but still hasn’t given me a proper response, meanwhile police in South Cambridgeshire are complaining about the same structural issues they faced two years ago.  There are things we can challenge, but we can only do that effectively if we know that the police view this is an important area to focus on. Once reports start going in if we don’t see action we do more and we can work with the MP’s office.

Just in case you’d forgotten the message is; Report, Report, Report.