Residents of Ontario Crescent, part of Redcar’s Lakes Estate, have voiced their concerns over escalating anti-social behaviour and crime in their neighbourhood, stating they are living in « fear and distress. » The community has reported instances of young individuals « racing around » on off-road bikes, one even donning a balaclava, and intimidating the elderly.
Other issues include incessantly barking dogs, environmental neglect such as overflowing bins, fly-tipping incidents involving discarded furniture and electronics, and suspected drug dealing activities.
The residents also expressed frustration over « multiple » untaxed, illegally owned vehicles being parked or abandoned in the area. Despite reporting these issues to authorities for over a year, the community feels little action has been taken, leaving them feeling « exhausted and abandoned. »
Social housing provider Beyond Housing has come under fire, with calls for it to enforce tenancy agreements of problematic tenants and prevent further property neglect.
A representative from Cleveland Police acknowledged the complaints from the residents and assured that they are working alongside Redcar and Cleveland Council’s anti-social behaviour team and local housing providers to « target those causing misery for others ». She urged the community to continue reporting any issues, promising that all information will be acted upon, reports Teesside Live.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) recently carried out a visit that brought to light locals’ confirmation of a recent police raid on a property, though precise details from the force were not forthcoming.
A Beyond spokesperson commented on the issue of anti-social behaviour, stating: « We take anti-social behaviour very seriously, working with partner agencies, and [also make] the police aware of any criminal activity so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. We rely on local intelligence and urge residents to report any concerns they have. »
Redcar and Cleveland Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Councillor Adam Brook, shared his perspective: « We want to work with residents to address these issues and will continue to use the powers available to us to address anti-social behaviour. »
In related news, the LDRS has raised concerns regarding a series of arson attacks in the adjacent ward of Kirkleatham, where youths have been stealing items from local shops and setting them ablaze.
At the same time, Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster reported to councillors earlier this month that crime figures in their jurisdiction have hit a five-year low, marking a 9.3% decrease in the year leading up to December. The period in question also saw a drop of 3.3% in reported anti-social behaviour incidents, despite a high total of 17,337 cases.
Previously, the Home Office has granted extra funding to the police for specific anti-social behaviour ‘hotspot’ patrols across 15 council wards in the Cleveland area. In the same meeting, Mr Webster committed to maximising the benefits of a financial boost from the Government for neighbourhood policing.
This funding, amounting to £1.2m in Cleveland, will be sufficient to recruit 20 new police officers.
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