“Spikes and trends” in burglary, auto crime and drug offences responsible for crime rise in Newark and Sherwood, but positives reported in action against anti-social behaviour

“Spikes and trends” led to a 92-incident increase in crime across the district in the last seven months of 2024 compared to 2023.

It represents 1.6% increase in crime in the district in May to December 2024 compared to the same period of 2023, in contrast to an overall 4.5% reduction in crime in the county across the same period.

The figures were presented as part of an update on the Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood Community Safety partnership given at Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Policy and Performance Improvement Committee meeting on Monday, February 10.

Answering questions about the data, Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “In terms of the small increase in crime, I think there’s been a number of spikes and trends which have led to that.”

This included the town centre burglary spate — which was confirmed was in excess of 27 offences and believed to be the actions of one person who is currently under investigation — as well as auto crime, and a focus on tackling drug offences, which the Inspector said “naturally leads to an increase of offending because we actively look for it”.

“Absolutely hands up we don’t want to see an increase — but my view is that the feedback from the community was that anti-social behaviour was our primary concern and that’s why we’ve focussed on that and seen the successes we have. But those other offences we’ve seen, we are focussing on those and working towards making an impact on that,” she added.

The district has seen a significant drop — 14.5% — in anti-social behaviour incidents in the same period it saw the rise in crime.

This equates to 254 less incident, and is above the countywide reduction of 8.3%.

A number of actions helped to reduce this, including; 38 referrals to the anti-social behaviour panel; diversionary activities; and 33 enforcements such as closure orders and community protection warnings.

A proportion of the enforcement actions had been taken relating to addresses and residents of Yorke Drive, which had been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, with the council noting residents’ feedback that the situation was ‘much improved’.

Additionally, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) funded Safer Streets Five project in Balderton was described by ward member Jean Hall as having “made a big difference” — and anecdotal feedback from residents was said to be positive.

2024 also saw the pilot of an immediate justice scheme, also funded by the OPCC, which saw those referred by the police or council take part in community clean-ups.

Jenny Walker, business manager for public protection, noted it had faced some “teething problems” in its introduction but had been “profound and quite successful” for those who took part.

“I think part of the context for the project, and the thing that will resonate with the community, is at the moment waiting for justice can take a long time by virtue of the process and the backlog in courts,” Inspector Ellam added.

“Where we do have those low-level offences, this is a route through which we can say to a victim actually we can do something positive here which addresses offending, potentially changes behaviour, and allows that matter to be dealt with in a shorter space of time so that everyone can move on.

“I think that’s where, in some circumstances, people have felt let down and it has impacted people’s trust and confidence in us. You report a crime and hope for justice… it can take such a long time that the value of that wanes and it makes the offence almost even worse because you continue living through that process.”

The future of the programme has not yet been confirmed by the OPCC, with the current funding due to end in March.

The update also confirmed that CCTV cameras all across the district would be replaced as part of an ongoing scheme.

Councillors were assured that these were frequently used to assist in prosecutions.