Loftus Ward Update

During the month of May, the Loftus ward received 42 reports of crime, this is a slight decrease in comparison to the 47 reports received during the same period last year.

All incidents reported are unrelated and there are no emerging patterns or crime trends.

During the same period there were 24 reports of anti social behaviour and is an increase in comparison to the 15 reports received during the same period last year. Three of those anti social behaviour incidents were in relation to youth disorder. 5 youths were identified in relation to these incidents and they were visited at home and issued with disorder notices (AS13). An AS13 notice is issued by the Anti Social Behaviour Officer at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and records anti social behaviour caused by a young person. If a number of these notices are issued to the same person within a 6 month period, then further action by way of an Anti Social Behaviour Agreements may be issued.

A large percentage of these anti social behaviour incidents were in relation off road bikes / motor cycles being ridden in an anti social manner. We have also witnessed it ourselves. We will not chase these machines due to the risks to the rider and wider public, but we will follow up every report. These machines live next door and opposite other residents. If you see an off road bike coming and going from a particular address, let us know. Legislation gives us 24hours to attend the address and seize the machine. A Section 59 notice has been issued to a male within the Loftus ward in relation to the above mentioned issue. A Section 59 notice is a warning given by Police to a driver whose vehicle is being used in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public by being driven carelessly or inconsiderately. If the driver continues to use the vehicle anti-socially after receiving the Section 59 notice, then the vehicle can be seized by Police. The notice is recorded on both the vehicle and the driver and lasts for 12 months.

Partnership work continues with Beyond Housing and a current area of focus is Larch Court due to a property being targeted on several occasions. Concerns have also been raised in relation to ongoing behaviour in the area that is having a detrimental effect on other residents. If you have any information or concerns in relation to this, then please forward either directly to me or Beyond Housing. This will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence and will greatly assist both agencies in taking further action to solve the problem.

Police and Officers from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have continued to support staff at Loftus Library particularly on Thursday evenings. Further to this the Manager at Loftus Library has supported Police in taking positive action and have supplied banning letters. One banning letter has been issued to a youth stating that they are no longer welcome to enter the library for a period of 6 months. Further banning letters will be issued should youths be identified for further anti social behaviour.

Incidents of a non urgent matter can be reported by dialling 101, online via the  online via the Cleveland Police website, Cleveland Connected or the COPA mobile phone app. 999 is for ongoing emergencies only. I am a point of contact for non urgent matters or advice on 07870386666 or Laura.Collins2@cleveland.police.uk. If I am not on duty at the time, I will always reply at the earliest opportunity.