BRIGG AREA CRIME DOWN ALMOST 16 PER CENT

"Overall crime has reduced by 15.8 per cent, which means 107 fewer victims of crime," Insp Brett Rutty told the quarterly Neighbourhood Policing Panel public meeting in the Angel Suite, Brigg, on Tuesday night.
He said: "Crime figures are for the last 6 months, December 2009 to May 2010, compared to the previous 6 months, June to November 2009. Burglary to people's homes is down also over the last 6 months compared to the previous period, by 30 per cent (10 fewer victims). Vehicle crime is also down, Thefts of Vehicle by 76 per cent (6 crimes in the last 6 months against 26 in the previous period) and Thefts from Vehicle down by 20 per cent. Clearly this is good news, but burglary to people's homes remains a priority for the Division and none of us can afford to become complacent. Keep taking sensible precautions, locking doors and windows, particularly during this period of good weather, even when at home in the garden and report any suspicious activity to the police.
"The Neighbourhood Team continue to focus on and investigate Criminal Damage and during the last 6 months there has been a reduction of 19.9% in this type of crime. (37 fewer crimes). Incidents of Anti-social behaviour cause concern to the community and to the Neighbourhood Team. A lot of effort is being put into identify the minority of teenagers who engage in anti-social behaviour, identifying hot spot locations by monitoring calls for service and through community contact and targeted police patrols to those locations.
"We have seen a slight reduction in calls for service for Anti-social behaviour of just 0.6 per cent over the last 6 months compared to the previous 6 months. Neighbourhood officers and PCSOs will continue to work with the community to tackle this issue."
Of the Brigg and Wolds Neighbourhood, Insp Rutty added: "The majority of the parking issues around the pedestrian zone in Brigg are now enforced by North Lincolnshire Council's Civic Enforcement Officers. However, the Neighbourhood Team do liaise with them and joint patrols have been carried out and there does appear to be a reduction in the number of parking offences and inappropriate use of the zone by vehicles.
"Pc Jane Proud and the PCSOs, frequently patrol the town centre, particularly in the evening, and challenge inappropriate behaviour by young people. However, they report that although young people do still congregate together in some areas, their behaviour, more often than not, does not amount to anti-social behaviour."

Pictured: Policing Panel chairman Coun Tom Glossop (left), Insp Rutty and Pete Scott (right), head of safer roads, North Lincolnshire Council.