MORE than 230 Lechlade residents attended a public meeting with police to discuss a significant increase in anti-social behaviour.

The neighbourhood co-ordination group meeting, held at the Memorial Hall on Tuesday, February 9, saw 235 residents given the chance to find out what is being done to combat the problem, with police confirming reports of anti-social behaviour in the parish had increased by 50 per cent in the last six months.

Cotswold Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Garrett Gloyne and Sergeant Stewart Liddle-Peters, beat manager for Fairford and Lechlade were joined by Cotswold District Council Cllr Sue Coakley, ward member for Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South, at the meeting.

Sgt Gloyne said local police response teams are “aware of the rise in reports of anti-social behaviour” in Lechlade and are doing the best they can with the “resources available.”

He went on to say that 47 police officers cover the Cotswolds area, with as few as five police constables on patrol on the night shift (from 11pm), ‘with particular responsibility for policing issues in the Cotswolds’.

The area they need to cover is from the other side of Tetbury across to Lechlade and beyond Chipping Campden; “It’s not as good as I’d like it to be.” Sgt Gloyne added.

“I can’t tell you there are more police than there actually are. These are the resources that are available to us.”

He said: “When officers are not engaged in incidents they’re conducting what we would call proactive patrol in certain areas,” with Lechlade having been flagged up for special attention of late. Sgt Liddle-Peters said that with the current situation it is crucial there is better “engagement” between police and residents, before urging people to come forward and assist with prosecutions.

“We have had resistance from members of the public in regards to coming forward and assisting with prosecutions,” he said.

“It’s not a criticism, more of an appeal. You live locally, people don’t want repercussions. I am aware of a number of offences that have been reported to us – we attend, take details, but without a statement it’s difficult for us to present the evidence. Our hands are slightly tied.”

Sgt Gloyne said: “I’ve been in the police for 20 years; it’s rare for witnesses in criminal prosecutions to be subjected to further criminal offences or witness intimidation.

“We’re aware that it’s a relatively small number of boys that are responsible for a good deal of it (anti-social behaviour).”

He added that police were working with a number of education authorities to help with the issue.

Sgt Gloyne informed those in attendance that a court case involving a 14-year-old boy has been adjourned until May 20 after he pleaded not guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on February 5 in relation to a charge of vandalism at St Lawrence Church in Lechlade, in December.