IT is deeply unfair to describe Walcot as “lawless,” says one man fighting claims that the area is a criminal hotspot.

It comes after news that people who live in and around Sussex Place have in recent weeks been living in the midst of a crimewave which shows no sign of abating.

Peter Mallinson, who runs the Walcot Community Shop, last week told the Adver: “The staff here are extremely concerned about what’s going on, and we don’t know any details whatsoever.

“There have been a lot of break-ins at the back of the shop recently and it’s becoming a bit of a lawless area.

“Things are getting to the stage of being desperate.”

But Walcot resident Roy Stephen, who was awarded a British Empire Medal by the Queen last year for his years of voluntary work in the community, said Peter’s comments were unfair when there are so many community-minded people living in the area.

He said: “Yes, there are issues, but we have regular police meetings at the community centre.”

Roy, who has been secretary of the community centre for the last three years and a trustee for six years, explained that, following the hard work of committee members last year, the area was awarded a £1,000 Aviva Community Grant to promote charity work.

He said: “I have worked hard to raise funds for the community and the application I have made this year is at the final stages and we are hoping for an award notice from Aviva next week.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has also been dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour in Walcot.

He said: “I have been in contact with local residents and Wiltshire Police this week about this issue.

“I have held meetings at Buckhurst Community Centre in the recent past to discuss these issues and am keen to make sure that as many incidents as possible are reported to the police.

“I am particularly concerned to hear about problems near to the community shop, whose work I have consistently supported over many years.

The MP added: “I will continue to work closely with Roy, local residents and Wiltshire Police to tackle anti-social behaviour in Walcot.”

In response to residents’ fears, the police vowed to continue to undertake high-visibility patrols in a bid to pre-empt any criminal behaviour.

A spokesman from Wiltshire Police said: “Our officers are working hard with partner agencies to deal with a small group of individuals to solve this and hopefully provide a long term solution.

“We will continue to conduct hi-viz patrols.”