Kibo …

This is a letter I’ve just sent to our town councillors and local police service.

All,

Forgive this quite blunt question, but what are ———’s town council and local police service proactively doing to improve the town?

This evening, I’ve been involved in keeping an eye on the town’s friendly neighbourhood drug addicts and alcoholics who appear to have taken up residence behind the swimming pool. In a separate incident I was threatened on the footpath between the pool and my house by a group of what I can only describe as people who should know better, all of whom were either already under the influence or well on their way, judging by the alcohol they were consuming on their route. I understand that consuming alcohol on the streets in the town is an offence, punishable by quite severe fines.

A few weeks ago a friend and I were threatened on our way home through the town at about midnight. On that occasion we were mildly amused by the young man’s attempts to intimidate us.

As these incidents occurred extremely close to my home any active involvement on my part immediately puts my family and me at risk.

In January I witnessed a domestic incident that now qualifies me as, and I quote, “a credible police witness”. I made the comment that one can’t stand by and do nothing, but the officer who took my statement just shrugged as if to imply that I may have been better off to do just that. However, I believe in Edmund Burke’s point that “All that is required for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. That’s a statement I try to live by. In Andy Williams’ words I’m also prepared to march into Hell for a Heavenly cause, even though I’m not a religious man.

Every day we see motorcyclists and drivers using ——– —- as a test track. Usually it’s young drivers in their pseudo-souped up Polos, Novas and 50cc chicken-chasers. You know the sort - big exhaust, cheap, screw on spoiler, home-made body kit, and so on. Occasionally it will be a grown up in something like a Vectra.

In the eight years I’ve lived here I’ve seen the town go from a nice, quiet market town to Beirut with flower beds. As far as I can tell the only “improvements” have been directed at building a bandstand on a flood plain, more effort to promote the town in “Britain in Bloom”, the implementation of an absurd one way system in the —– —— and ——— —- area, and the painting of needless double yellow lines that do nothing to increase road safety. We’ve had cars vandalised with no investigation. We’ve even had the police ‘phone back in response to a 999 call to tell us that they’re not coming. That, frankly, is alarming.

Friday and Saturday night in the town centre can be terrifying. It’s easier to find hen’s teeth than a police officer, and when you do see them they’re just cruising around, boy-racer style, rather than actively monitoring noise and nuisance. I’m certain that officers on foot will have more impact than a car that loops every twenty minutes or so that can be heard coming from several hundred yards away.

Regardless of how much effort is put into building relationships with similar towns in Europe as part of “twinning” schemes, the town cannot improve unless these fundamental issues are addressed and resolved. We cannot expect tourism to grow if visitors feel at risk as they walk through the town.

I appreciate that under the current government the country has gone well and truly to the dogs, but you, our councillors and representatives, have some responsibility in dealing with these issues. Rest assured, I do not underestimate the effort that is required to improve the town. I believe it’s time for a stark crackdown on the behaviour I’ve described here. Zero-tolerance, batons drawn, and, perhaps, a few mounted police.

I can see a time where vigilante groups in towns and villages across the UK will start to emerge as decent people tire of the inconsiderate behaviour of the few. That is something in which I will be more than willing to take part, but where does one draw the line? Who polices the police?

More here: Urban Decay and Fed-up resident’s vigilante warning.