Police: A challenging time in Horncastle but steps are being taken

Officers have also asked concerned residents to continue to report any incidents via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Discussing the matter at this month’s Horncastle Town Council meeting, PCSO Nigel Wass said: “You are probably aware that there have been numerous issues with properties on the Bull Ring during lockdown.

“I’ve spoken to our ASB team and three closures notices on three properties on the Bull Ring are with our force solicitor at the minute and then they will go to the courts.

“Closure notices mean that property is closed and people will have to move out.

“It will be for the courts and solicitor to dictate the length of time and the whole process has got to go through them so that is one of the options we are using.

“Somebody from one of those properties was arrested and a Public Order Offence has been catalogued over the weekend (July 11/12).

“Also in light of some of the councillors who have let us know about anti-social behaviour vehicles, we have recently issued three Section 59 warnings.

“They last for 12 months and if their vehicle is witnessed in an anti-social manner then a warning is given on them and that vehicle.

“So they could be driving another vehicle in that twelve months - and if they are seen acting in an antisocial manner again police can seize the vehicle and it costs about £300 to get it back.

“I’ve been here probably 20 years and it has probably been the most challenging time I’ve known.

“At the end of the day, we do what we can.”

In response, Coun Alan Lockwood raised concerns about dealing with anti-social behaviour in the longer term.

He said: “This is my concern - the problem is not going to go away and how are we going to ultimately deal with it unless we can get the drug problem out of the town.”

PCSO Wass explained: “Once people are evicted under closure notices nobody has any obligation to re-home them and normally under these circumstances, 99 times out of 100, they do leave the area.”

“Without Covid-19, they would have been gone months ago.”

Town Mayor Fiona Martin also called for residents to ensure they report any incidents through 101 or 999.

Coun Martin said: “We would like to encourage everybody to report any incidents so that police can officially look into it.”

PCSO Wass added: “I’ve probably sat at a lot of meetings over a lot of years and said Horncastle has one of the lowest crime rates in East Lindsey - which is still true - but when we do get a rise like we are having perhaps some people are not used to actually having to report things and let us know.”