POLICE have today reassured residents living on a troubled Ipswich estate that they are taking their concerns seriously.afraid to leave their homes at night for fear they will become victims of crime.

POLICE have today reassured residents living on a troubled Ipswich estate that they are taking their concerns seriously.

As reported earlier this week, some of those living on the town's Triangle estate, which incorporates Dickens Road, Kelly Road and Lavenham Road, are too afraid to leave their homes at night for fear they will become victims of crime.

Today Acting Inspector Caroline Brinkley said patrols have been stepped up on the estate and officers were discussing progress in the area on a daily basis.

She said: “Over the last few weeks there have been a number of disorder situations around the area and we have worked with partners over the last month to try to address the issues.

“On September 27 we had a street meet around there and we went down there with a lot of different partners within the community, including Andy Solomon (Ipswich's anti-social behaviour network officer), housing officers and a community safety officer from Ipswich Borough Council.

“We went down there with a view of speaking to residents and establishing the issues there.”

Acting Insp Brinkley said an action plan has now been drawn up to try to resolve the problems with a lot of work focused on providing diversionary tactics for youngsters.

She said many of the issues involved groups of, mainly 13 to 18-year-olds, and said there was little for the age group to do.

She added: “The problems are predominantly anti-social behaviour and youth congregation and the south west Ipswich Safer Neighbourhood Team is looking at funding to get more youth workers down there to divert them (the youths) away from crime.”

Andy Solomon, anti-social behaviour network manager, added: “It is a very neglected part of the town and now it has been highlighted as a problem area I hope something gets done to get facilities there.

“We won't solve it overnight but we are working on it and we hope to get results.”

Acting Insp Brinkley, said only ten anti-social behaviour forms had been submitted in the area this year and there had been only five crime logs since the beginning of October.

She said she thought some residents were notifying councillors of issues but not telling police and urged people to contact the force if there were problems with crime.

She said people could also report anti-social behaviour issues anonymously by using reporting forms available at police stations or by calling the anti-social behaviour line on 0800 1386570 and leaving a message. The service is checked daily.

Have you encountered problems on the Triangle estate? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail: eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

www.suffolk.police.uk

www.eveningstar.co.uk/news