Calls for more police resources after councillor chases off gang

LOCAL councillor Huw Williams is calling for better police resources after he had to chase troublesome teenagers away from a community centre himself because police were dealing with more serious incidents elsewhere.

Cllr Williams had parked his car outside the George Ward Centre in Church Lane, Barwell on Monday November 19 and was on his way to a council meeting when he spotted the group of teenagers. They were throwing things at the George Ward Centre windows, stealing sweets and shouting abuse at the worker based at the centre.

The Conservative councillor on both Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Barwell Parish Council chased them away and called the police. He made three 999 calls during the evening. It was almost three hours from his first 999 call that officers arrived.

In the mean time the group of teenagers came back to the centre to cause more trouble and Cllr Williams had to chase them away several times.

When the incident was over Cllr Williams later contacted the police to find out why the call had taken so long. He was told about more serious incidents happening at the same time which didn’t leave enough officers available for an immediate response.

Cllr Williams said: “The police need more resources.

“They explained to me the amount of resources they had got and the amount of incidents there were. They just don’t have enough resources.

“Parents need to know what their children are doing as well. I’m sure if the parents knew what their children were doing they would be horrified.”

Cllr Williams is linking the incident at the George Ward Centre with another incident of anti social behaviour at a shop in Barwell’s Kirby Road earlier in November.

Leicestershire Police have 500 fewer officers now than in 2010 as a result of government cuts. There are fears of further cuts because of a proposal that police forces will have to pay more into police officers’ pensions.

“If the proposal becomes government policy Leicestershire Police could lose up to 180 officers, one in ten of current numbers, by 2020.

Staff costs are the biggest single cost for Leicestershire Police.

Sergeant Ian Tuckwood of the Hinckley neighbourhood team said: “We are aware of the antisocial behaviour that occurred at a community centre in Stanley Street, Barwell, on the evening of Monday 19 November.

“Each call is assessed and takes into account the immediate threat, risk and harm relating to the incident. On this occasion officers did attend the location later the same evening and have followed up with enquiries subsequently. Two 14-year-olds have also been spoken to following the incident.

“We are working with partner agencies to address issues of antisocial behaviour in the area. We take all reports of this nature seriously and would encourage anyone who has any concerns to call the police or the local authority.”