RUTLAND: 600 calls made to 101 yob hotline

NEARLY 600 people in Rutland have called a phone line set up to deal with anti-social behaviour in its first year.
The 101 hotline was launched last September, run by Leicestershire Police in partnership with Rutland County Council.

Over the last eight weeks there have been 161 calls to the 101 number in Rutland – 54 of which were reporting noisy neighbours and loud parties and 48 highlighting drunk or rowdy behaviour.

Vandalism and graffiti accounted for 23 calls, there were 16 calls about abandoned vehicles and 14 relating to threatening and abusive behaviour.

Fly tipping accounted for four calls, one concerned drug-related anti-social behaviour and another reported broken street lighting.

Coun Barrie Roper, chairman of the Rutland Community Safety Partnership, a body comprising councils, emergency services, health officials and other interested bodies, said: “101 makes our county a safer place to live, as action can be taken to stop anti-social and nuisance behaviour that may not have been brought to either the police or the council’s attention before.

“We’re seeing evidence of the 101 service having a really positive impact on the lives of people in Rutland, who previously may not have known where to turn in order to stop nuisance behaviour blighting their local areas.”

Oakham and Barleythorpe was the busiest beat area in the last eight weeks, with 102 calls. These included 11 incidents at Cold Overton Road, Oakham, focusing around a derelict property with its windows smashed.

Nine
incidents were reported at Vale of Catmose College, mostly involving former pupils causing disruption. There was an increase in reports of youngsters riding motorbikes and mini motorbikes on the school playing field and properties on Parkfield Road complained about the noise from the bikes and that they were being ridden by youths without helmets, lights or any safety equipment.

Exton had seven incidents of noise nuisance, youths on motorcross bikes on the playing field and vandalism to the recently refurbished children’s play area. But there have been no more complaints from Caldecott, which had been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

Police say anti-social behaviour in Cottesmore, Ryhall and Whissendine has also reduced in recent weeks. And parking problems at John Street in Oakham near the former Somerfield store and at Rutland County Council car park have significantly reduced.