Softly, softly? That’s not us, says Horncastle police chief

Wolds Inspector Sarah Constantine admitted resources during the Covid-19 pandemic were impacting on policing - and the way officers work and conduct investigations - but added: “It doesn’t mean we will not tackle these crimes and that we are doing nothing.”

Insp Constantine went on to stress the force’s response to an incident of ASB in the

Bull Ring last Wednesday evening - in which seven people were arrested - highlighted their commitment.

Insp Constantine was responding to strong criticism in an email from town councillor Alan Lockwood.

In the email - written before last Wednesday and sent to PCSO Nigel Wass and other town councillors, Coun Lockwood states: “A parishioner had a recently installed CCTV camera destroyed by the occupants of a flat, well known to yourself.

“This camera had been installed to combat anti-social behaviour against the complainant.

“A police complaint was made and of course the usual incident number was issued.

“However, that was not the end of the incident.

“These individuals proceeded to throw bottles into the street from their flat windows, hazarding passing public pedestrians and vehicles.

“The police responded, cleaned up the glass (admirable) and then proceeded to sit in their van.

“At no time was there any attempt to engage with the miscreants or attempt to investigate the incident.

“A follow up call by the police to the complainant has informed them that ‘because the courts are closed we will not be taking any further action’.

Coun Lockwood goes on to claim there is ‘an element of people in Horncastle who are making life a misery for a large number of others and to me very little seems to be being done to eradicate it.’

He adds: “The response (to the broken camera) is unacceptable.

“I would like PCSO Wass to take this complaint and forward it to a higher level so that a response will inform me, and the rest of the Horncastle Town Council, of what the policy is regarding tackling anti-social behaviour.

“When challenged on this some weeks ago, the Police and Crime Commissioner assured me, and many other councillors from both Horncastle and Louth, that anti-social behaviour would have the appropriate priority.

“I am still unsure of what that means, taking into account that little has changed since.”

Insp Constantine replied to Coun Lockwood by email saying: “I can assure you that the incident along with all of the others raised are being followed up and investigated by PC Palmer who has started with our team this week to support PCSO Wass and PC Young.

“We are working with partner agencies and the landlord of a property to use any available powers, whether they be civil or criminal, to tackle the individuals involved, in accordance with ASB guidelines for these types of incidents.

“And, where these options are available they will be used.

“PC Palmer has also spoken with the complainant whose camera was damaged, as clearly it is not the case that we are not taking any further action due to the courts being closed.

“He is happy with the police response although understandably frustrated at being a victim of crime.

“The current situation with Covid-19 is impacting on policing and the way we work and conduct our investigations, and sometimes there is a delay in getting matters before courts, as you can imagine.

“But this absolutely does not mean that we will not tackle these crimes and that we are doing nothing.

“These ongoing issues are a priority to us and extra patrols of the town centre have been conducted by uniformed and plain clothes officers and as you are aware officers did remain in the location last time to prevent any further problems.”

Last Wednesday evening, after the email exchange, six arrests were made after police swooped on an address in the Banks Street/Bull

Ring area. A seventh person was arrested later.

Police have confirmed bottles - and other objects - were thrown on to the street.

They did not confirm a claim by an eyewitness that officers in riot gear were employed, along with a force drone.

• All seven people arrested have been released on conditional bail, pending further investigations.

Police have also renewed their appeal for witnesses.