Big drop in antisocial behaviour
POLICE have reported a recent drop in antisocial behaviour in Hungerford.
In a monthly report to Hungerford Town Council, the neighbourhood team revealed: “There has been a real drop in reports of antisocial behaviour, with nothing reported in February.”
But it’s not all good news. The report added: “This is historically the time of year when we see an increase in certain rural offences – in particular hare coursing and with it the resulting criminal damage reports to crop, hedgerows and gates.
“In recent weeks we have received several calls of vehicles driving about in fields surrounding the town, harecoursing, causing criminal damage and also further afield towards the South Oxon border.”
Other incidents following:
Overnight on Monday, February 8, a vehicle parked in Prospect Road had two tyres slashed with what appeared to have been a knife or similar, sharp object.
On Sunday, February 14, the town Co-op reported an incident of shoplifting.
And on Wednesday, February 24, a garden greenhouse in Moores Place had the windows smashed.
You can report online at https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk
If it is urgent please continue to call on 101 (non-emergency) and 999 in an emergency or a crime is in progress
If you would like to report anonymously you can do so via the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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LITTERING and dog fouling is increasingly plaguing Hungerford Common.
Mayor Helen Simpson told an online, full meeting of Hungerford Town Council on Monday: “We’re having more and more of an issue with litter on the common.
“And recently, two toilets were dumped there – go figure! That’s more of a fly-tipping problem.”
She said volunteers from the Town & Manor of Hungerford had been picking up increasing amounts of junk and added: “I imagine there’s an increase in people walking and enjoying the countryside, so we’d ask them to please be mindful of our green open spaces and take your litter home with you.”
Mrs Simpson said there had been groups of individuals doing informal, socially distanced litter picking and went on: “Hopefully, when we come out of lockdown we can organise an official litter pick. We’ll need it. We all have a responsibility to keep the place
where we live tidy.”
District councillor James Cole (Con, Hungerford and Kintbury) acknowledged the problem on the common and said: “I’m seeing this in some of the hedgerows where I live.
“It’s becoming quite a problem, isn’t it?”
He also said that debris from fast food outlets was causing a problem in the town centre, but added that one outlet’s licence was up for renewal and that “words are going to be had about the amount of litter and food debris”.
Meanwhile, the Town & Manor has issued the following message: “The common has been used more than ever during the lockdown, but we now have a serious problem with dog poo.
“Not only does dog poo spread disease, it also effects the flora and fauna on the common due to the level of nitrates in the faeces.
“Human diseases such as E.coli and campylobacter are transmitted by dog poo along with neosorosis which is extremely harmful to dogs and cattle.
“We are putting up the ‘polite notice’ posters to remind dog owners to pick up their dog's poo and take it away.”