Policing cuts leading to ‘mob rule’ in Shrewsbury, councillor says

Cuts to policing have led to ‘mob rule’ in areas of Shrewsbury with officers unable to keep a lid on rising crime, it has been claimed.

Two unauthorised bonfires in the north of the town resulted in police and fire service attendance on the evening of November 5, with grass left scorched, bollards ripped ripped from the ground and piles of charred debris left behind for council staff to clear up.

Councillor Ioan Jones, who represents Harlescott, told a meeting of the town council’s recreation and leisure committee on Wednesday evening that the problem was getting worse every year and police did not have the resources to do anything about it.

Clerk Helen Ball showed members photos of the aftermath of the two fires, saying the town had “got off relatively lightly” not to have had more.

She said: “Kynaston Road and Wingfield Gardens are our perennial problems.

“It’s not like it used to be, where kids used to throw wood and anything that burns on the bonfire, they put absolutely anything on and as you can see there was a a lot of residue that we have had to remove.

“Both bonfires finished up having police attendance and fire attendance as well because there was anti-social behaviour at both.”

Councillor Jones said he saw people “congregating” at Kynaston Road on Bonfire Night in breach of Covid guidance prohibiting gatherings.

He said: “There were groups of young teenagers, older teenagers, young adults and family groups, and it was obvious what was happening.

“I tried for an hour to phone the police on 101 and was just on hold all the time.

“The following morning I went down and saw all the rubbish.

“I spoke to staff at the fire station later in the day and they said they were called out at six o’clock. The police told them, ‘don’t do anything or it will all blow up’.

“To me it’s mob rule. Again, as has happened for many, many years, they just do what they want.

“This pussyfooting around this element of the community is a waste of time.

“These people don’t look at is as though they are being advised, being assisted and being educated, they look at it as, ‘we have won’, and they will be back next year to win again.

“Unfortunately the authorities are letting them get away with it.”

Councillor Jones said crime and disorder in the town had reached this level 20 to 30 years ago but had reduced over time.

He said: “Up until 10 years ago when we had police in the area there was some control.

“In the last 10 years with the reduction in policing this has come to the surface again, and it isn’t just Bonfire Night.”

Councillor Jones said Kynaston Road was also plagued by “a major drug issue” including county lines, and people in the area were showing a “total disregard” for Covid regulations.

He added: “Until the authorities get a grip on things, this element of the community is going to win every time.”

Committee chairman Councillor Kevin Pardy, who represents Sundorne, said: “Many of us in this area of the town recognise what you are talking about.”

He suggested inviting representatives from the police to discuss the issue at a future meeting.