Gang is making life a misery on our estate

Residents living in the Sherwood Way and Whittingham Avenue area of Southchurch say their lives have been made a misery by the gang who burgle homes, cause criminal damage and threaten people with violence.

The Echo reported last week members of the gang were tearing across playing fields on motorbikes, including play areas being used by young children.

However, it’s emerged a catalogue of other crimes, including peeping toms, indecent exposure, burglary, criminal damage, drug dealing and attacks on the elderly and disabled residents have been reported to police.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I went out of my door last night and saw a man in his twenties shouting and swearing at a 72-year-old man. He was telling him he was going to ‘do him with a hammer’.

When he sawme he swore at me and told me to get back in my house.

“He then started throwing stones at a 75-year-old woman across the street.

“People are afraid to go out.

We don’t have a life here any more. We’re just existing and no one will do anything to help us.”

Roslyn Price, neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the area, said: “The police know about it.

They know who they are, but they’re not doing anything.

“We are all under siege from this gang. People are talking about putting money up to get them sorted out. They are talking about doing something themselves and I can’t say I blame them.”

Other residents claim they have been “abandoned” by the authorities and blamed cutbacks to local policing.

Aman, living in the area, who did not wish to be named: “It’s out of control.

“The Police and Crime Commissioner has taken away the power for the police to investigate crimes and take action against offenders.”

Southend district commander Chief Insp Simon Anslow said: “We put in place an operation earlier this year in response to concerns about crime and incidents of antisocial behaviour in the area, which has seen us work with partners.

“We did see a reduction in the number of reported incidents.

However we have seen an increase in the past month, which is a concern to us.

“We want people to feel safe and are making inquiries into these incidents.

“I’d ask residents to continue working with us.

“National crime recording statistics mean any report of a crime must be recorded separately. We would not record a report of a burglary and stones being thrown at a house as part of the same offence.

Antisocial behaviour can cause damage to communities and individuals ranging from annoyance to serious physical or mental distress.

“With the resources we have, we need to prioritise calls where there are high risks through repeated antisocial incidents, to vulnerable people, or people being specifically targeted.

A response from uniformed officers to every report of antisocial behaviour is not necessary, or possible. We will assess each call to decide on our response. If there is any threat to people’s safety then we will look to attend that incident.

“When officers do not attend antisocial behaviour, that does not mean no action is taken.

If it is deemed appropriate for another agency to deal with it, this information will be passed to that agency. Where a pattern is emerging, then police will work with partner agencies to take appropriate action.

In a case like Sherwood Avenue, where it would appear multiple reports of antisocial behaviour are occurring, then we will look to take action.

A RESIDENT WRITES TO COMMISSIONER

THIS is an excerpt from a letter to Nick Alston, the Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, from a resident who lives in the sheltered accommodation.

The resident, whom the Echo has agreed to only identify as Mr D, paints a bleak picture .

It reads: “It is a gang, well known to local police as distraction burglars and drug dealers (a neighbour has captured two attempted burglaries on CCTV, but they were recorded as antisocial behaviour).

“If an elderly resident calls in the morning to say they’ve been threatened by someone, and in the afternoon, the person who threaten them attempts to burgle their flat, that’s recorded under the same incident number and most likely as antisocial behaviour.”

THE RESPONSE FROM NICK ALSTON

RESPONDING to this letter and other concerns, the police and crime commissioner said: “I feel sympathy for Mr D. The circumstances he describes clearly impact on his and his neighbours’ quality of life.

“Our police forces are facing significant financial challenges and there is an increasing focus on tackling crimes such as gang violence, domestic abuse and child sexual exploitation.

“However, it is not correct to state the PCC has ‘taken away the power for the police to investigate crimes and take action against offenders’.

“Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh is responsible for operational policing, and has decided Essex Police’s response to antisocial behaviour will concentrate on those cases which involve risk, vulnerable victims and repeat victimisation. In cases such as Mr D’s, I expect Essex Police to continue to