I have already had cause to bring this to the attention of the wider public, when it happened to a neighbour, with a letter published in this paper on December 2 last year.
Having made the journey to Spalding to report the matter, I was informed by the G4S member of staff on duty at the desk that I would be “contacted later today” by someone. This I took with a slight pinch of salt, as it was mid-afternoon on a Saturday, but felt it reasonable to interpret it as probably Monday. No such contact was made.
Eventually, I received a “pro-forma” letter in the name of the Chief Constable, dated February 20, informing me that the matter had been allocated to a police officer and, if the officer had not already been in touch with me by the time I received this letter, then they would be doing so very shortly. To date, no such contact has been made!
Further, there was a form of blurb within this letter regarding victims of crime and Lincolnshire Police’s support of same.
I would like to challenge the Chief Constable to withdraw this particular piece of public relations nonsense (the pro-forma letter) as it is simply untrue.
All this following the recent criticism from HMIC regarding “could do more” for victims. Well, Chief Constable, ain’t that a fact!
Also, so much for the promises given and published on the website of this paper on December 9, 2016 and January 29 and February 8 this year.
It appears that villages in general, and our village in particular, have been left to fend for themselves by Lincolnshire Police. I know of several incidences here. Despite what people may say of the perpetrators, they are not as unwise as you may all think. They will be only to well aware that the chances of being caught in the act are absolute zero.
They will also be aware that the chances of subsequently being investigated and detected are “nine below zero”. To this end, the transgressors know they can ply their trade with impunity.
To the residents of my village, I would like to paraphrase the Lotto motto: You have to be in it (live here) to lose it, it could be you (next).
Whaplode St Catherine
