Police swoop Bridport flats in early morning drugs raid

Officers seized suspected class A drugs in the 5.30am operation at the block on Alexandra Road.

They arrested a 45-year-old man from Bridport for possession of a controlled substance and released him on bail until Friday, February 17.

Officers have called for anyone else with suspicions about suspected drugs or related antisocial behaviour to get in touch.

Sgt Steve Hughes, of Bridport police, said that operation was carried after residents contacted the force with concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour.

He said: “If we don’t know there is a problem, we can’t act upon it.

“If anyone has similar concerns they should call the police or call Crimestoppers. Their names can be kept anonymous.”

Police said that they executed two mis-use of drugs act warrants at the flats.

A former tenant at the block, who did not want to be named, said that it had been a nightmare living there.

He called for landlords Magna to be more careful about who it places and where as well as better checks, such as formal interviews and home visits.

Police and Magna have been meeting to tackle issues at Skilling – including one this week.

Insp Mike Darby, of Bridport police, said they were working together to look at ways of making the lives of residents better.

He added: “We are looking at something in the short term area and mid to long term about how we can design away the problem.”

County councillor Karl Wallace welcomed the police action.

He added: “If anyone does have any concerns about such issues they should call the police or Crimestoppers.”

Magna said that it is monitoring the results of the police enquiries following the raid to see any tenancy agreement had been breached before deciding what action it is going to take.

It insisted it has a robust approach to antisocial behaviour and stressed that it was carrying out regeneration work which was achieving results.

Director David Aldwinckle said: “Anti-social behaviour is a blight on people’s lives and we won’t tolerate it.”

“Recently, the police carried out a survey of residents to try to find out how they feel about living in the flats at Skilling.

“Most people said the whole area has improved considerably and that the investment Magna has already made in refurbishing the flats has made a significant difference.”

Mr Aldwinckle said that some residents were angry that the area is being portrayed in a bad light.

CCTV is set to be installed at Skilling and more refurbishment work carried out.

Mr Aldwinckle said: “We have been working with the town council and the police in providing CCTV equipment for Bridport.

“There are a number of sites within our housing stock where we are planning to install it.

“Skilling is one of those areas.

“We will soon be starting stage two of our refurbishment project, the next part in our ongoing commitment to the Skilling area.

“We’ve already installed new fire doors in the flats, decorated communal hallways, reinforced communal doors and put in an intercom system.

“Stage two involves improving external areas and access.”

He added: “By working with and talking to residents and other agencies, things can improve, as has been shown to be the case at Rivervale.”

Mr Aldwinckle said that Magna has a local lettings agreement and people who are allocated properties must meet the criteria. Call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information.

TOWN’S TOP COP REVEALS A MARKED REDUCTION IN CRIME FIGURES

BRIDPORT’S new police chief had good news to impart about crime statistics in the town - most of which showed a marked decrease.

Insp Mike Darby warned that looking at the statistics could give a skewed perspective when figures were so low – for instance there had been 100 per cent increase in the incidents of robbery – from one to two cases.

He gave the crime figures for the last nine months to members of Bridport Town Council who congratulated him and his team on their good work.

He said that there was a good success in crime reduction.

The figures included a drop in total crime by 107, from 750 to 643 - a 14 per cent reduction for Bridport town - on the same period for the year before.

Most serious violent crime of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and above stayed the same with two last year and two this year.

Sexual offences dropped from 8 to 6, and robbery was up one to two.

Domestic burglaries were down 12, from 24 to 12, a 50 per cent reduction.

There were 33 fewer burglaries from sheds and businesses, from 49 to 16, a 67 per cent reduction - the best in the force.

Theft, including shoplifting, was up by 11 from 200 to 211 but theft vehicles was down by 28, from 77 down to 49. The number of vehicles stolen was up from 5 to 8.

Criminal damage was down eight from 151 to 143.

Drug offences were down from 55 to 30, a 45 per cent reduction.

Anti social behaviour from 761 reported cases to 612, a 20 per cent reduction.

Insp Darby said that with new noise level measuring equipment they had been able to prosecute three noisy ‘boy racers’ and others have changed their cars because they had heard about the equipment.

“I think that has been an outstanding success here and in Lyme Regis,” he added, He added that Pubwatch was also a great success and the festive initiative of Operation Protect had been successful - with only one arrest for minor assault on New Year's Eve.

On a final note he said that staffing levels for police and PCSOs in Bridport would stay the same and the station office would remain open but one station officer would go leaving the station manned for an hour less a day but still open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.