Police chiefs urged to step up patrols in Bury St Edmunds to combat street drinking and begging
Police chiefs were urged at a public meeting to step up patrols in Bury St Edmunds town centre to reassure residents concerned about the ongoing issue of street drinking and begging.
The problem which has blighted the town centre recently was raised at a meeting with Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Suffolk’s Chief Constable Steve Jupp and Andy Pursehouse, Chief Inspector for West Suffolk, on Tuesday night.
During the meeting at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, one resident said: “A lot of people are feeling very frightened and unsafe.
“I don’t see police on the beat. I think patrols need to be stepped up and I think it would reassure the citizens of this town.”
Referring to anti-social behaviour by a group of youths, another resident said there needed to be ‘proactive rather than reactive working with schools’ as such behaviour was deterring visitors.
One man said Bury had become a ‘no go area’ and pointed to the bus station as well as the area near Poundland, on Cornhill.
Chief Insp Pursehouse said: “We do have patrols out there. We have two funded community support officers who are paid for by the town council. They’re out regularly.
“I was out on patrol myself in the Abbey Gardens last Sunday. It’s important we’re in the right place at the right time. That’s where we need your help (to say) where these problems are happening.”
On anti-social behaviour involving young people, he said they were working on a ‘full package of measures’ such as anti-social behaviour legislation and curfews.
Mr Jupp said there was a ‘hardcore of six or seven individuals’ who are ‘almost making a professional living’ out of begging and, while they can arrest people, it was about ‘problem solving and working with partners to divert them away from a life of alcohol and drug dependency’.
Speaking to the Bury Free Press after the meeting, Mr Passmore implored people not to give money directly to those begging but to a charity that can help.
He added: “We’ve got to get a better funding settlement for Suffolk Constabulary.
“I’ve been lobbying the Home Office and will continue to do so.”
- Read more: Shop quits Bury St Edmunds town centre after seeing increase in street drinking, begging and anti-social behaviour
- Read more: Police consider injunctions to crack down on street drinking and begging in Bury St Edmunds
