United in a bid to tackle street crime
A NEW approach is being taken to tackle crime in the Hawthorn Avenue area.
Councillors and police are teaming up for joint patch walks through the area of west Hull that has suffered after regeneration funds were withdrawn in 2010.
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Crime prevention scheme: From left, Special Constable Matthew Dennett, neighbourhood co-ordinator Emma Elbourn, Councillor Lynne Petrini, beat officer for the area PC Steve Calvert and Councillor Alan Clark. Picture: Jerome Ellerby
By uniting, both Hull City Council and Humberside Police hope to come up with new ideas to tackle antisocial behaviour, vandalism and theft.
Councillor Alan Clark headed out with PC Steve Calvert yesterday for the first joint walk in the area.
He said: "Although we do our own patch walks, it is interesting to get another perspective from the local bobby.
"We might be able to assist the police with a small pot of money from our community safety fund.
"We recently put more street lighting in Pretoria and Seymour Streets after a spate of burglaries."
Residents have been concerned about the rise in crime after the regeneration funding was stopped.
It meant that half the homes in the Hawthorn Avenue area still lie empty, which has attracted vandals, squatters and increased arson attacks and fly-tipping.
Councillor Clark said: "There has been growing concern about crime in the Newington area since regeneration was stopped.
"I think it would be good for us to go out with the police once a month and speak to people about the local issues.
"We both have different ideas and by combining them we can be much more effective. If the police identify, say an area hit by car crime, we could help fund leafleting to warn residents.
"It will also help to have more visible policing in the area. Residents often complain there aren't enough officers on the beat.
"With the cuts, the police budget is getting tighter so we can maybe help."
Inspector Lee Edwards, of the Riverside Neighbourhood Policing Team, believes the initiative could be a huge success.
He said: "We have a lot in common with what the council is trying to do.
"It is about getting the best out of the money we spend and this can be best achieved by working together.
"It is helpful for us to have a fresh pair of eyes to look at some of the issues in the area.
"Councillors and police can see different solutions to the same problem.
"We recognise there are some unique problems in the Hawthorn Avenue area with all the empty homes and we are trying to provide ways of reassuring them."
7 Comments
by redneckagenda
Thursday, February 02 2012, 12:08AM
“2 or 300 hundred years ago you could be deported for stealing a crust of bread but it was still dangerous to walk the streets at night in the big cities. Hull's or more specifically Hawthorn Avenue's problem is that it's a deprived area & public floggings aren't really dealing with the major issue.”
by cueball44
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 5:31PM
“There is only one reason that offenders are let out of prison as soon as possible, money, Government Money.”
by Eeebahgum
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 4:19PM
“This type of scheme is all well and good but when you've got an 'airy fairy' justice system running alongside it you've no chance.”
by FreeWillie
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 3:22PM
“Agree with Bill_Billy, I have never understood this "time off for good behaviour" when its bad that gets them there in the first place, they should serve the full sentence and then time added on it they behave badly whilst in prison, then tagged on release.”
by David_Nivea
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 1:44PM
“@Bill_Billy: Hear, hear.
The trouble is though, the legal profession relies on revolving door court cases to maintain their income. If all the criminals were locked up for long periods [they won't build more jails/gaols/prisons as this would be perceived as the 'system having failed] and there was relatively little crime [the police have know who most of the local villains are, and round up the usual suspects] MP's, many of whom are lawyers, would have to introduce a slew of new offences to criminalise the population, in order to keep their mates in the style to which they are accustomed.
Either that, or the number of ambulance-chasing adverts would increase dramatically on telly.
Allegedly.”
by Baldric1234
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 1:24PM
“Quick, duck before Mr Clark's jacket splits open and takes someone's eye out.”
by Bill_Billy
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:28AM
“Here's a new idea to tackle crime but it may seem rather radical & over the top to todays judges & human rights do-gooders:-
How about we send the criminals to jail & complete their full sentances instead of giving them a smack on the wrist leaving them to troll the streets committing more crime & misery?
Can't see it ever happening though.”