PROBLEMS around specific licensed premises in Halesworth, speeding motorists in Reydon and the education of young drivers in and around Southwold will be the priorities for the Southwold and Halesworth Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) during July and August.

PROBLEMS around specific licensed premises in Halesworth, speeding motorists in Reydon and the education of young drivers in and around Southwold will be the priorities for the Southwold and Halesworth Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) during July and August.

Police have regular meetings with partner agencies as well as ongoing engagement with members of the community as part of the day-to-day work of the SNT, with the aim of identifying the issues that appear to be of greatest concern. This can include crime, anti-social behaviour or indeed other non-police issues which generally have an adverse effect on residents quality of life.

During May and June, the issues that had been highlighted were to deal with anti-social behaviour in the London Road area of Halesworth, where there had been several reports of alcohol-related crime and disorder; anti-social behaviour in the Orchard Valley area of Holton and the Folly in Halesworth, and criminal behaviour around the Field Stile Road area of Southwold.

Southwold and Halesworth SNT Sgt Nigel Tompsett said that progress had been made on all these areas, but that officers would continue to monitor them and maintain a presence wherever necessary in order to ensure the problems due not arise again.

'The area around London Road in Halesworth had been highlighted as a number of young revellers leaving local licensed premises had caused residents distress through their behaviour to an unacceptable level.

'Police worked with the local licensees via the local Pubwatch scheme and increased their presence at the relevant times and that, together with the recent closure of the Heart Foyer, a home for young people that was situated nearby, had resulted in a real measure of success with no further reports of problems.

'However, we have decided to continue with this as one of our priorities, to ensure that we do not see a return to problems as the summer months progress.

'We also increased our patrols in Orchard Valley and the Folly and there have been no further reports of any problems. However, we would warn those who have been responsible that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour, and will always aim to deal rigorously with those who are identified as causing a general problem to the community by using all appropriate means available to us.

'Crime in Southwold had also been dealt with by robust policing with a number of incidents being investigated and suspects dealt with. Once again, local offenders have been made aware of the presence of officers who are taking a keen interest in their activities and we are taking a firm stance on all such behaviour.'

Sgt Tompsett continued; 'For July and August, we plan to work alongside our colleagues in the Fire Service and team up with the Beccles and Bungay SNT to launch a programme of education for young people who drive, or who are thinking about learning to drive, to teach them about the dangers of bad driving and its consequences. Should it be necessary, we will also work along with colleagues from the Roads Police Unit to carry out enforcement work.

'Several complaints have been received regarding the number of motorists who flout the speed limit along Halesworth Road in Reydon which, being the main access route to and from Southwold, can cause a real road safety problem as well as annoyance to residents. Again, we will be carrying out enforcement work in the area and will deal appropriately with offenders.'

These priorities have been identified by residents, businesses, town and parish councillors as well as by observations by police, and will therefore see additional patrols and resources directed at them.

If you think that there is an issue that needs police or council attention, then you can raise this with your local Safer Neighbourhood Team and it will be discussed at a future priority-setting community tasking meeting.

You can contact Southwold & Halesworth SNT via their website at www.onesuffolk.co.uk/SaferSuffolk/SouthwoldandHalesworth/ by telephoning 01986 835300 or by calling into Southwold or Halesworth Police Stations.