RISHTON POLICE UPDATES

Cllrs Clare Cleary and Ken Moss met with the Rishton police team on Wednesday 5th June to discuss crime issues around the village and various things have been investigated recently:

• There have been 39 reports of mini motos causing a nuisance since the start of 2013 and, although difficult to catch on occasion, public information has resulted in two notices being issued which give the police the power to seize the bikes.
• Burglaries are currently on the increase and residents are urged to be vigilant. In particular, empty properties are being targeted and stripped of metalwork inside. If any residents see unmarked vans conducting suspicious activity at an empty house they are urged to ring 101 and report it.
• Youths are causing problems with antisocial behaviour on the wall between Bridgefield Close and the old foundry, plus are throwing rocks across the canal at people walking by. The Councillors are liasing with the site owners to get it tidied up as soon as possible and the police have spoken to Eavesbrook Housing to put deterrents along the top of the wall to prevent youths causing a nuisance to adjoining gardens.
• There have been various reports of dog nuisance across Rishton and these are all now being addressed, including unauthorised dogs on Howard Street play area and antisocial behaviour along Bridge Street and Spring Street.
• Shoplifting has become a problem at the new Co-op store although CCTV is helping to identify who the culprits are and the police are now actively investigating several cases.

Clare and Ken will be meeting with the police again on 3rd July and if any residents have issues they would like raising with the local officers then please get in touch.