Police step up patrols on estate

IPSWICH police have today stepped up patrols in part of the town despite denying there is a crime surge at the moment.

Last week police defended a report in The Star stating there had been a rise of 81 per cent in criminal incidents in the town.

The figures had come from the Neighbourhood Watch crime map, which is reported in The Star each week, and which showed a massive rise of 81pc in rates in the town between September 22 and 27.

But chief inspector Alan Caton denied these figures were accurate and instead said they gave the community a “flavour” of what was happening in the town.

However, in his weekly Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, he added that more patrols were being sent out into the Triangle estate, in south west Ipswich, where higher than normal levels of crime have been reported.

He said: “The Neighbourhood Watch crime figures provide a flavour of crimes in the area and can't be relied upon as accurate statistical data.

“We have been experiencing higher than normal levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in south west Ipswich, particularly in and around the Triangle Estate.

“I have ensured a greater policing presence in that area and request that we are notified of any criminal activity.

“We will continue to work with residents and partners to provide longer term solutions to some of these problems.”

But Mr Caton again defended the crime map stating that in many areas crime has actually reduced within the last two weeks.

He added: “To put the record straight, crime in Ipswich in certain categories has reduced over the past two weeks.

“This is particularly so with regard to domestic burglaries. In fact there has not been a single house burglary in Ipswich for the past six days, which is really excellent news.

“The problem area continues to be criminal damage. We are experiencing high levels of damage and need to do all we can to reduce this area of crime.”