Keep reporting disturbances in town, crime crackdown group urges

KEEP reporting disturbances – this was the message to New Milton residents and businesses from leaders of a partnership cracking down on anti-social behaviour in the New Forest.

However, they added problems in New Milton town centre seemed to have decreased after complaints over the past year that Station Road had been plagued by a disruptive group of adults, drinking, shouting, swearing and threatening people, and urinating and defecating in the street.

As reported in the A&T, more than 30 businesses in Station Road and nearby Old Milton Road signed a petition calling for action to be taken to address anti-social behaviour.

The problems were said to have left some elderly and vulnerable local residents afraid to go out to the shops. Staff at the New Milton Conservative Club also told how they and their guests had been intimidated by a drunken and abusive group loitering outside.

After the issue was raised with New Milton Town Council, assistance was sought from Safer New Forest, a partnership of agencies including the district council and Hampshire police, which aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Tuesday’s town council amenities meeting hosted a presentation from Safer New Forest representatives about their engagement with the community and traders in New Milton during the summer.

Community safety manager Nikki Swift said: “We became aware of a small group of adults in the town centre and their behaviour, particularly on the benches outside Morrisons.

“There were concerns about all-day drinking, leading to verbal abuse, urinating in the street and begging.”

Ms Swift pointed out the partnership had been unaware of the issue until it was raised at a meeting in June. Attendees included representatives from the town and district council and the police.

Ms Swift said the partnership immediately sent out a team to speak to retailers, specifically at the railway station end of the High Street.

Each of the businesses spoken to had been issued with community diaries in which they could keep a log of any problems. But community safety officer Sarah Jennings said only one of these had so far been returned, and this was in relation to a matter reported to police.

As many of the problems highlighted appeared to be drink-related, checks were carried out at a number of local businesses to ensure alcohol was being sold appropriately.

Police had used dispersal powers to deal with one individual who caused trouble on two occasions in July but, Ms Swift added, these had not been needed since.

A Safer New Forest team returned to the town centre for one of the Wednesday markets, when they positioned their van among the stalls at the opposite end of Station Road.

As well as speaking to traders from the shops and businesses there, Ms Jennings said they engaged with about 100 members of the public. Having conducted a survey, she revealed that 97% of them said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the area in which they live.

However, the survey also saw many complain there was not enough of a visible police presence in the town.

But, pointing out many had said they did not officially report issues or assumed someone else would, Ms Jennings said police would not be able to deploy extra officers if they did not receive enough calls.

“After our engagement, there has been a drop in reported incidents,” she added.

“People feel safe, and we’ve not heard from the town council that the group of adults is still congregating.”

Vowing the partnership would continue its work to address any concerns, Ms Jennings called for people to report any disturbances to police via the 101 non-emergency number or by using the force’s online reporting facility.

This message was emphasised by Brian Byrne, NFDC’s service manager for housing, community safety and CCTV.

“When we worked with the retail owners and members of the public it was clear there was a view that something was happening, but there was no reporting,” he said.

“I want to encourage people to make reports. I know it can be time-consuming, but unless we are aware of it, there is nothing we can do to make a change.”

Responding to the presentation, Cllr David Hawkins was keen to highlight the need to focus attention on other areas of the New Milton parish, including Bashley and Barton.

There have been issues in Ashley, particularly around New Milton Rugby Club’s base on the recreation ground off Normans Way. These have included youths spotted on the pavilion’s roof and thousands of pounds of damage caused to goalposts.

Cllr Christine Ward added: “I have been concerned for a year with the Ashley area. Not only the rugby club, but the school has been targeted. I hope concerns will be addressed.”

Other committee members praised the effectiveness of the multi-agency work carried out during the summer, including chairman Cllr Geoffrey Blunden.

“The overlying message is that we have got problems and we do get problems, but the problems are being dealt with,” he concluded.

“Ideally, we would like not to have problems at all but unfortunately life is not like that and we are a big town. But the problems are being dealt with.”