Shock crime poll results for Huthwaite

The poll put online by Councillor Lee Anderson revealed 98 per cent of residents said not enough is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Now Coun Anderson, Ashfield District Council member for Huthwaite and Brierley, has written to Chief Constable Sue Fish, of Nottinghamshire Police, calling for a curfew on “feral youths” who he says are making people’s lives a misery.

In his letter he says: “I have written in the past when Chris Eyre was chief constable about the unacceptable levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in Huthwaite.

“Since that time we have had two visits from Paddy Tipping, the county police and crime commissioner, and the local inspector, plus several meetings with residents and the still ASB and crime remains a major problem within our village.

“The majority of people in Huthwaite are decent hardworking folk who expect a reasonable level of policing in their village and presently this does not exist.”

He said nothing is being done about “feral youths” wandering the street with “impunity”, intimidating people, throwing stones and damaging property.

Coun Anderson said residents were having trouble getting through on the police’s 101 non-emergency crime number and crimes were going unreported.

He said: “It is unbelievable that 50 per cent of people in the survey say they have witnessed a crime being committed.”

“The teenagers are even posting things on Facebook and the police still can’t arrest them.

“It is unacceptable when they know who is doing it.

n See the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-LN83ZNVN

he findings of Councillor Lee Anderson’s poll included:

n 98 per cent said not enough is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour;

n 53 per cent of people have witnessed crime/ASB being committed;

n 58 per cent cannot remember the last time they saw a police officer on patrol;

n 77 per cent said they had felt unsafe while out and about in Huthwaite;

n 75 per cent felt the service offered by 101 was poor;

n 84 per cent felt crime was increasing in Huthwaite;

n 87 per cent felt the levels of crime would deter families and business from moving into the village.