Following arrests after reportedly more than 20 vehicle break-ins in 12 hours, R4U is urging the Police Commissioner to deliver on on his commitment to hire additional PSCOs that have been funded by communities to keep them safe.
Police make arrests after spate of robberies
R4U’s Paul Fairhurst, who is also the Saffron Walden Mayor and a town and district councillor, said “First of all we should congratulate the police for the very rapid arrest of the suspects and recapture of many of the stolen items. Successive cuts have made the police’s job very difficult. In this latest criminal spree of many, while residents we’re enjoying the Late Night Christmas Shopping in Saffron Walden, these crooks clearly felt they could rob and burgle at will. From reports it seems that they broke in to more than 20 vehicles over a 12 hour period, including many vans owned by local businesses. It is not right that residents and businesses should feel concerned about their property every time they leave it.”
Doubling of crime since police cuts
Paul Fairhurst (R4U)Police Commissioner needs to deliver on PCSO commitment
Cllr Fairhurst concluded “Residents demand a change in local policing. R4U has been championing community-hired PCSOs to replace the withdrawn police, but the Police Commissioner has been slow to act even when he has money. Months ago the Saffron Walden Town Council agreed to fund local PSCOs which UDC has guaranteed to match-fund. His committed start dates have been missed several times. We urge the Police Commission to get on with hiring so that the police can try and prevent these crimes in the first place.”
R4U councillors Barbara Light and Paul Fairhurst outside the ex-police station in Saffron Walden that was closed by the Police Commissioner in 2017 and sold for housing development.