Letter to Editor: Is the lack of policing creating a no go area in Harlow Market Square?
Politics / Sun 15th Jul 2018 am31 09:44am
Letter to Editor
I’M aware business owners in the Market Square and East Gate are concerned about rising crime and anti social behaviour. Having walked across the Market Square on Wed 11 July 2018 just after 4.00 pm I was aware of a disturbance with one female and two males who had exited the Clock House Public House. The situation escalated within minutes resulting in the female running and punching one of the males in a vicious unprovoked attack.
Let’s be very clear about what happened as the over use of anti social behaviour is diluting the fact that crimes are being committed ie public order offence and an assault. Nearby there were children with parents and older shoppers in Broad Walk who could hear and see this disturbance who may think twice about walking in that direction in the future.
Whilst Harlow Council are working to regenerate the Market Square and have a good Community Safety Team who have civil orders at their disposal to issue penalty notices when required, until Police Officers are back on the streets with powers of arrest sadly these crimes will continue. A review of Essex Police Crime Map shows an increase in crimes over recent months in this area of the Town Centre however these only account for reported crimes; often when crimes relate to drug debts for example victims are reluctant to report the crime.
On 25 January 2018 the Independent reported Police Officers hit historic low with reported crime increasing by 14%. The Shadow Policing Minister Louise Haigh states ‘These shocking figures reveal the Tories have lost control in their fight against crime’. This, coupled with the dismantling of the Probation Service which has been recently described ‘as a mess’ by Bob Neal Conservative MP and Chair of Justice Committee and our broken justice system overall this is of grave concern.
It is important that residents of Harlow as well as visitors to our town feel safe, it is not just about the perception of crime, these are unreported crimes. Whilst Harlow Council play an important role in addressing anti social behaviour; the game changer will only happen when an increase in Police Officers in our town are visible so those that commit these crimes are punished through community rehabilitation and the use of offending behaviour programmes. With the Police & Fire Commissioner of Essex not visiting Harlow before 2019 pressure needs to be placed on Roger Hirst PFCC to be held to account on these matters before Harlow Market Square and East Gate becomes a no go area.
Frances L Mason
Harlow
m ingall
2018-07-15 15:07:08
Frances Mason is spot on, whilst Harlow Council does what it can, going well beyond measures that have previously been considered necessary, the link between rising crime and record cuts in police officer numbers (down by over 20,000) cannot be ignored. And remember, when the Tories came to power in 2010 they promised no cuts in front line policing.
JerryFromQueens
2018-07-15 15:35:07
If you have lower police numbers and less visible policing, the criminal element in our society will feel emboldened. This stems from a typically Tory sense of short sightedness, crime figures were looking better when they came to power so they cut police numbers. Ditto the NHS, and look at the mess they've made of that. The Conservative Party know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
MickyB77
2018-07-16 06:26:20
Lack of parenting more like it.Children, youths too, should be taught by their parents what responsibility is all about. Not by the Police. Problem with society, is that standards have fallen so low, I doubt if good manners and consideration for others will ever return in certain sections of the community. Iv'e come across, totally ignorant individuals, who are actually un-aware that they are plain ignorant. So, you sow what you reap.
MickyB77
2018-07-16 06:35:42
Lack of parenting more like it.Children, youths too, should be taught by their parents what responsibility is all about. Not by the Police. Problem with society, is that standards have fallen so low, I doubt if good manners and consideration for others will ever return in certain sections of the community. I've come across, totally ignorant individuals, who are actually un-aware that they are plain ignorant. So, you sow what you reap. Ah, but according to ykw, it's all the fault of ykw. You couldn't make it up.
MickyB77
2018-07-17 06:35:05
Momentum loves the un-educated section of society, they can then offer them, like Corbyn does, free this and that in the hope of vote catching for the future. It all goes hand in hand with the article.
MickyB77
2018-07-17 09:57:00
mingall. When the Tories said "no cuts", we all know that this comment was made, before the disastrous spending and shortfall left by the Bliar and Brown twosome,became apparent. Don't these REDS, ever, put their grimy paws up to anything ?
Brett Hawksbee
2018-07-18 13:30:45
MickyB77 says "I’ve come across, totally ignorant individuals, who are actually un-aware that they are plain ignorant. So, you sow what you reap". Priceless.
MickyB77
2018-07-18 14:47:53
Another I know best for this weeks second clanger. Priceless you are, gullible too. You have to be careful, like ykw, when slighting comment. Sometimes this IS fun.
MickyB77
2018-07-19 16:57:41
I have another clanger out there ,for you, BH, and old mother hubbard too. Happy hunting and Tally Ho.
UKMaverick785
2018-07-31 22:21:12
How do our Labour friends explain the massive increase in crime in London since Sadiq took over from Boris as Mayor? Or a number of grooming gangs in Labour Council areas going back years.....!?
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