Website puts Old Town hotspot on the map - of crime (From Swindon Advertiser)

Website puts Old Town hotspot on the map - of crime

11:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News By Josh Layton

Matt Lewis, owner of Gusto cafe-bar in Old Town

A CRIME-MAPPING website has pinpointed a small area in Old Town as being the biggest trouble-spot in the south of Swindon.

The chart, which was updated this week by the Home Office, shows 56 incidents happened in and around Wood Street and Devizes Road in December. The biggest problems were anti-social behaviour, violent crime and criminal damage.

The area has had few incidents in daylight hours, when there’s a thriving mix of shops, bars and cafes, but has been a hotspot for drunken behaviour by night.

Coun Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) said: “Old Town has two faces.

“During the day it’s a quiet shopping area, but it changes its character quite dramatically in the evenings, particularly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, when it turns into a late-night entertainment area, with all the associated problems.

“The borough’s licensing officers and the police and councillors have a continuous balancing act to try to contain the problems.”

Coun Bawden has attended regular meetings with the police to address the issues.

“It’s a problem we have had for many years which the licensing authority, police officers and ourselves have worked very hard on,” he said.

“I am hoping legislation which has been passed by Parliament and comes into force this year will provide greater powers to the borough and police to deal with the problem.”

Traders in the area – which has enjoyed a rise in visitors – expressed surprised.

Matt Lewis, owner of Gusto cafe-bar in Albert Street, said: “We open to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and most of the customers say they would rather come here than the town centre because there is less trouble.

“It might be that more crimes are reported in this part of town as there is a sense of community and more interaction with the police.”

Lionel Brasier-Dinning, co-owner of Old Town Cafe, in Devizes Road, said: “We haven’t had any issues since the windows and doors were kicked in about five years ago.

“The area is quite well patrolled during the day and there is a good relationship between traders and the police.”

Tim North, community beat manager for Lawn and Old Town neighbourhood policing team, said: “It’s still a generally safe environment to enjoy, provided people take sensible precautions. Many of the crimes committed are obviously as a result of the amount of alcohol that is consumed.

“The latest figures we have had for Christmas were down on last year, so that’s pleasing, but we are not complacent.

“The footfall through Old Town has increased considerably and where there are more people, there is more opportunity. It is also easier than ever to report crime, as nearly everyone has a mobile.

“Where shoplifting is concerned we are working with traders and encouraging them to report crimes.”