Claim lack of reporting of crime led to PCSO being moved

A parish councillor has urged people to report crimes as she claimed people’s reluctance to do so is the reason why resources have been moved elsewhere.

Sam Bailey, of Holbeach Parish Council, told a meeting of the authority that a PCSO had been moved from the town to Long Sutton because crime numbers were higher there.
But she believed that was only because residents were not reporting incidents due to an assumed lack of action from the police.
“We see that in and around town because we’ve got the shop and I live in the middle of the town.
“We have cones we put out on the double yellows.
“We have cars coming up the wrong way street.
“One of the reasons why the policing is so lacking in Holbeach is because there are not enough people complaining and calling in crimes.
“You have the idea of ‘what’s the point?’ as you can’t speak to Holbeach, you get put through to Grantham.
“I once had a very serious incident involving weapons and the police took eight hours to come.”
She told the meeting she’d been told she was an urgent case but not priority after ringing six times.
“People have such little faith in the police coming out or them being dealt with seriously, they’re not reporting crimes.
“This is why, apparently we’ve lost the PCSO and they’ve got more in Long Sutton as people there are reporting.
“We’ve got to find a way of getting people to report crimes.
“They’re going to think we don’t need police if there’s no crime.”
She requested that the parish council look to leaflet drops to encourage people to report crimes.
Parish clerk Jan Hearsey said she’d reported a vandalism of Holbeach cemetery online.
“Within 30 seconds of pressing send I got a report back saying we’ve investigated your crime and there’s no crime to answer,” she said.
Coun Peter Savory added: “What I would call the traffic side is non-existent and it’s causing dangers.
“People are now parking in areas of zebra crossing which were put there to stop people parking there for safety reasons.
“They’re parking on pavements.
“I’d like to see more enforcements on traffic offences in and around town.
“People are reporting crimes but they say ‘that’s not a police matter’.
“One person was told to phone back when they’ve broken in after someone tried to get in their home.
“Attempted burglary seems now to not be a police matter.
“The policing in this area is rubbish.”
Coun Sophie Hutchinson requested the police put parking enforcement as a priority and that the council should raise concerns over the reporting procedures.
It was also suggested the police be invited to a future meeting.
The Voice contacted Lincolnshire Police for a comment, but it had not received one at the time of going to press.