Police ‘lost control’ of antisocial behaviour in Valley

Jul 28 2009 By Dave Himelfield

A COUNCILLOR has claimed police cannot control anti-social behaviour in a rural village.

Clr Ken Sims said Valleys police chief Insp Mark Trueman had told him his force did not have enough resources to tackle antisocial behaviour in Holmfirth.

Clr Sims said policing has decreased in quality and quantity over the last 12 months with areas such as Cliff Rec, Sands Rec and Crown Bottom carpark becoming antisocial behaviour hotspots.

But police insisted patrols had not been cut and insisted crime was being tackled, although the community could do more.

Earlier this month councillors debated whether to demolish a stone shelter at Cliff Rec which had become the site of wild teenage parties.

Clr Sims added response times to calls had become much slower.

The councillor for Holme Valley South said: “Police said they can’t control Holme Valley. They’ve said they neither have the resources nor numbers to deal with antisocial behaviour. We said we were not happy with that.

“Some of the 999 calls go to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and they don’t know the district.

“We want to work with the police but I have got to keep the pressure on them.

“The response is much slower and sometimes you get nothing even when people have rung.

“The quality and quantity of policing has greatly decreased in the last 12 months.”