Recent Anti-Social Behaviour in Snodland

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The Town Council are aware of the recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in Snodland. As a result of this, we asked the Police to attend our Full Council meeting last night to report on the actions that have been taken to deal with the problem.

Sergeant Dyson and Inspector Turtle of the Neighbourhood Police Team reported the following:

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• Halloween was a particular pressure point, and a team of police were deployed to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. On the evening, there were only five calls made to the police, relating to incidents in Roberts Road, Lee Road, the High Street, Malling Road, and Saltings Road. There was reported criminal damage to car windscreens and wing mirrors, and fireworks being set off in a dangerous, uncontrolled manner.

• The Police had already put in place a Dispersal Order in Snodland for Halloween, although it was not necessary to deploy it, as the Police escorted some young people home and called parents to come and collect those who were causing problems.

• Although no arrests were made, there are ongoing enquiries regarding several incidents. Identifying individuals has proved difficult due to faces being disguised. Any residents with doorbell footage, or other recordings of incidents, are encouraged to submit it to the Police.

• The Police estimate that there were approximately 150 youths on the streets of Snodland on Halloween, but the majority of them were just carrying out Trick or Treat and not behaving inappropriately. However, there were some large groups of 20 or 30 youths in certain areas, many of whom had come from outside of Snodland.

• The Neighbourhood Team have made a successful bid to government for more funding for policing in Snodland, and an extra officer has already been put in place to cover the town, which has been classified as a “Hot Spot Zone”.

• Residents who wish to report non-emergency incidents are encouraged to use the online reporting system as this gets through to the Neighbourhood team more quickly than phoning 101.

• The Police are liaising with Arriva regarding the damage to buses, with a view reinstating services through the town.

• There will be a Police presence at the Fireworks event this evening.

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In addition to the Police presence, the Town council have additional SIA trained security staff in attendance at the fireworks event this evening.

 

Although the Town Council doesn’t have the ability to tackle anti-social behaviour directly, we are concerned about the problems and have made contact with the Anti-Social Behaviour officer at TMBC to ask for support. In addition, a councillor has liaised with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Community Safety Unit. The local County Councillor has also been informed.

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The Town Council are aware that a local resident has set up a meeting tomorrow to discuss the recent problems. Due to the short notice, we are not able to send a representative to the meeting, and we understand that the Police, the Community Safety Unit, and the local MP are not able to attend either.

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The Town Council are happy to facilitate a public meeting in the future, and to ask the Police, the MP, and other public bodies to attend, but we would need to find a date that fits in with scheduled meetings and other diary commitments.

 

Cllr David Lettington, Chairman of Snodland Town Council.