The Groves Neighbourhood Watch

On Sunday 10th December over 30 local residents attended the first meeting of a new Neighbourhood Watch Group for your area.

The meeting was organised by local residents fed up with crime and anti-social behaviour on the streets.

Local Police, Anti-social Behaviour Team and the Community Wardens attended the meeting.

Residents asked tough and searching questions of the police, councillors and council officers.

Local beat bobby PC Nick Deacon gave details of the police team in the area, which consists of a Police Sergeant, himself, specials constables and police community support officers. Nick answered questions and listened to residents concerns about the lack of a police presence on the streets.

Details were also given of the sorts of crime and intimidation suffered by people living in the area.

Sean Dickens represented the Council anti-social behaviour team, which is based at the Library and Customer Care Centre on Holderness Road. If the team is to be successful against antisocial behaviour and offenders Sean needs diary sheets completing for every incident and returned to him at the Mount Pleasant office. Diary sheets are used to compile evidence, which can be used in court.

Peter Jones from HANWaG was unfortunately unable to attend but sent Neighbourhood Watch information packs and is fully supportive of starting a scheme in the “Groves”.

Below is a list of some of the concerns raised by residents,

· More ally gates are required in the allies not currently covered.
· Better Street Lighting is required.
· Action against local Street Thugs.
· Better lighting on the cycle track.
· Bushes and shrubs to be cut back.
· Action on speeding cars in St Marks Street.
· Improvements in Car Parking on Egton Street.
A further meeting will be called to form a Neighbourhood Watch committee and further full residents meetings will be held.