North Devon residents urged to report crime and ASB

Resources will go to where they are most needed

People in North Devon are being urged to report crimes so concerns about anti-social behaviour can be addressed.

Police told a North Devon Council licensing and community safety committee that more resources can be put into areas if they have evidence of problems.

Cllr Joy Cann (Lib Dem, Bickington) said ASB in Barnstaple had increased since street-based youth workers were scrapped, as young people don’t react well to police officers.

But she was told that in the last three weeks a new outreach youth work programme had begun in Barnstaple, and Georgie’s Youth Centre had been refurbished and reopened.

Cllr Julie Williams (Lib Dem, Ilfracombe East) said as a retail worker in Ilfracombe she saw daily occurrences of staff being abused by “mainly young members of the community”.

Cllr Pru Maskell (Con, Braunton West and Georgeham) talked about one child being terrified of going to school in Braunton because of youths attacking them, and reports of suspected county lines drug activity.

She said crime is shifting to the rural areas because it is more closely monitored in towns.

In April a disturbing video circulated on social media of a boy being assaulted at a bus stop in Braunton which resulted in multiple arrests.

Community safety sergeant Kevin Connar said police would “dynamically respond” should there be an increase in reporting for an area.

“Sometimes there is apathy [about] reporting because people do not believe there is an outcome from it, but I would like to put paid to that and reinvigorate people’s confidence in reporting.

“As police we are duty bound to investigate reports of crime. You must coach the electorate to report and support them to report.

“Resources are finite, but if we know what is happening and told where the issues are we can better prioritise the resources we do have.”

He said when young people were not going to school out of fear it was an issue for schools to address as well as police and councillors.

Committee members were told of “a pressing need” for partners to work more closely as a result of recent social media posts and a spike in offences from “a narrow cohort of people”.

But the sergeant added that when dealing with young offenders it is important to recognise adverse childhood experiences, deprivation and immaturity.

Police had seen benefits from employing a dedicated child-centred police investigator, and youth crime and disorder is a priority for the community safety partnerships in Devon.

The ‘assertive outreach detached youth work’ now in place in Barnstaple is where youth workers actively seek out young people in environments like streets or parks.

“It is designed to make sure we meet them where we can engage more meaningfully,” said Sgt Connar. “Rather than their only encounter with statutory authorities being ones that are entirely negative predicated on a criminal report.. this of course of something we need to do but it is not all we should be doing.”

He invited all councillors to a monthly ASB steering group meeting where they could learn more about problem areas and what is being done to address them.