BALLOT: Louts brought into line by extra police patrols (From Worcester News)

BALLOT: Louts brought into line by extra police patrols

10:00am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(5)

A BATTLE against anti-social behaviour in Worcester has been won, but the war is not yet over.

People who live and work in Lowesmoor formed an action group last year because of gangs of drunks and drug addicts causing havoc in the area.

Traders said they faced a daily battle against anti-social behaviour; homeless drunks gathering in shop doorways, defecating in alleyways and abusing passers-by, while residents said the behaviour was so bad it made their lives a misery.

West Mercia Police admitted that they had underestimated the situation. Chief Inspector Jerry Reakes-Williams promised to step up police presence and work with locals to ensure things changed.

Four months on and, according to everyone involved, there has been a noticeable improvement.

Speaking at an action group meeting at Worcester’s Guildhall on Monday, Charles Batchelor, who lives in the Moorings in Lowesmoor, said: “We’ve noticed such a marked improvement. It’s quite unbelievable.”

Nikki Harrison, of Lowesmoor Wharf Developments, said: “It is still happening, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was. I think it all comes down to having more police patrols.”

South Worcestershire officers have made at least 240 patrols in Lowesmoor since November last year. They have also worked with Maggs Day Centre, St Paul’s Hostel and Worcester City Council to identify where the repeat offenders were living.

Sara Goodman, of south Worcestershire community safety partnership, said most of the troublemakers were homeless. Three of them are in prison, and three others will soon be made subject to criminal anti-social behaviour orders. She agreed that police presence was a major deterrent, but urged traders and residents not to underestimate the importance of their own role.

Mr Reakes-Williams said: “I don’t want to be complacent – people will be coming out of prison and resume their familiar activities – but things are considerably better.

“I can’t promise to maintain the level of patrols you have been seeing, simply because we’re getting towards summer. The whole of the riverside is an issue for us during the coming months and I have to put patrols in those areas too.

“Patrols in Lowesmoor may not be as intensive as they have been, but this is still a priority for us.”

Lowesmoor is undergoing a £75 million regeneration project, which will ultimately bring supermarket giant Asda to the area, as well as up to 13 other new shops, 10 apartments, office space, a restaurant and a multi-storey car park.

Demolition work has begun at the old Vinegar Works site and building work will start in due course.