Wigan residents turn to practical solutions to help police end crime sprees

Neighbours blighted by a crime spree are working together to provide practical solutions for the whole borough while the pandemic forces more pressure on police resources.

Residents in Winstanley have been left shaken by a spate of crimes in recent weeks which has included break-ins, car thefts and would-be burglars checking homes for unlocked doors.

Iris Benson MBE, a patient leader for the NHS, has lived in Winstanley for three years. She is one of many residents left concerned by the crimes in her area, but she has turned her hand to helping residents across the borough affected by similar incidents, appreciating that it is not just a local issue.

While understanding residents’ frustrations at the lack of police action, she also accepted that the force’s resources were too stretched to investigate every crime reported, and that more practical, community-based solutions were vital in combatting the spate of intruders.

Iris, who was awarded an MBE for services to mental health, said: “We’re seeing and hearing from neighbours, how frightened they are feeling about the break-ins, and there’s been quite a lot of them. They are happening during the day, during the evening, in the night.

“When I heard about this, and I saw some of the comments on social media, I didn’t want people to start thinking they should take the law into their own hands. I think that’s really unsafe. But I think there’s a potential for that to happen if we don’t do something about it, especially when feelings are running high, and it’s an elderly person or someone disabled or their carer that gets broken into.”

Residents have been advised by community officers to call 999 if they see anything suspicious, though Iris said many residents are apprehensive about calling the police during the pandemic for anything other than a life threatening emergency.

She said: “People don’t even want to go to the doctors for their problems at the moment because they know the doctors are so busy. The same applies to the police - people know they are busy, they know they haven’t got the resources.

“I thought: ‘What can we do together? One, to raise awareness and work with the police, not against them, and also to recognise the need in the community.”

Iris has been liaising with neighbourhood watch members and community police officers to discuss practical options for helping residents stay alert and minimise the risk of a burglary.

She said: “This isn’t just as easy as picking a phone up and dialling 999. Yes, we know that’s what we should do, but if they haven’t got the manpower, then what can we do?”

She added: “Between us, in some way, we can come up with something.

“If we are going to produce leaflets, we need them easy to read, in different languages, in big print and in braille. We can’t just hand out a leaflet and expect everyone to understand it.”

She added: “This is a preventative, caring, compassionate, way of working together.

“We can do this together, and the only way we can do this is working together.”

Insp Darryl Codling, of GMP’s Wigan district, said: “Police are aware of a spike in reports of burglary in the Winstanley area since December 2020.

“As part of GMPs response, neighbourhood officers have increased the frequency of patrols in the area. Further, officers have been in contact with co-ordinators from Neighbourhood Watch in order to put a scheme in place with the community which will help to proactively prevent crime in the area.

“We acknowledge the community’s frustration with this recent spate of burglaries and would like to reassure the public that all reported burglaries are being investigated by our team of detectives who are carrying out a number of extensive enquiries as they investigate these incidents, including using CCTV and carrying out house to house enquiries to gather further intelligence.

“I would like to thank the public for their continued co-operation and for assisting detectives as they complete their investigation. We will always take crimes of this nature seriously and encourage the public to report anything suspicious to police.”

Anyone with any information can contact police on 101 or via the website. Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Coun Paul Kenny, ward representative for Winstanley, has spoken to Iris and has contacted the community policing team to ask them to contact Mrs Benson. Yvonne Fovargue, MP for Makerfield, is making representations to the police and Wigan Council.

Councillor Kenny said: "In common with many people across Winstanley I am frustrated and angered by the recent spate of crime in the locality. I know that on the ground Police and Community Support officers are working as hard as they can, against a backdrop of Covid and long standing resource issues, and it is understandable that people feel let down at the response they receive when they report matters to GM Police."

"Mrs Benson and the wider community are good people who have worked hard and deserve a better service than they are currently receiving. Ultimately, our police force faces severe pressures with a greatly reduced workforce. We need local action from the senior management of GM Police and Government resources to turn around the public anxiety, frustration and anger."

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