Police

Minx Bar, High Road
The Police applied to the District Council for a licence review, citing that this night-club had a significantly higher number of incidents reported than did other nearby late-night premises.

LRA put out a neutral letter to nearby residents, asking them to let the Council (and us) have details of their experiences, and a number responded. LRA asked for revocation of the licence or, failing that, a limit on closing time of not later than mid-night. Loughton Town Council also asked for the licence to be revoked.

Along with some residents (Matthew Brown, Mark Pidgeon, and Roger Griffiths) and ward councillor James Hart, David Linnell attended the Council hearing on the application, and spoke on behalf of LRA. Matthew Brown and Mark Pidgeon also spoke.

In the event, the Council decided to reduce the closing time on Friday & Saturday to 12.30am (latest sales of alcohol); times for Monday-Thursday remain at midnight. There would then be an additional 1/2 hour before final closure. The Council added a long list of conditions on the way the club should be run. We understand that Minx intend to appeal to the magistrates to overturn the decision, and that the closing hours will remain as before until the appeal hearing. Even if their appeal fails, no doubt in a few months time Minx will apply to go back to their old hours.

If there is an appeal hearing, or a new application by Minx, we will try to let you know about it.

Antisocial behaviour

• Please keep reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour (and ask for an incident number). This enables the police – and us – to identify where the problems are, and call for action, even (particularly) if there are insufficient officers to respond to some of the calls.  If you feel that your calls are not being properly dealt with, contact Sgt Jacqui Mileham - the district's Anti-Social Behaviour coordinator at Epping Police Station on 0300 333 4444, and let us know too at contact@loughtonresidents.co.uk.  Loughton
• Dial 999 for emergencies, and 07968 354021 for non-urgent cases.
• Broadway is the worst affected area for antisocial behaviour seeing a 80% rise of 23 incidents a month to 41. However, many incidents are relatively minor, and local officers are successfully building up relationships with local youngsters – we are also very concerned about behaviour in the High Road.

Violent crime
Forest Ward, which includes the bottom end of the High Road, is the area with the most violent crime in the district (note; but it is still a relatively low-crime area).    

Cold –calling tricksters
Cold- calling tricksters are a problem in Debden, generally going for trusting elderly people. PCSOs are now calling on all properties where it is obvious an elderly person is living and giving out advice.

Broadway Townlink
The Broadway Townlink, which enables shops to alert each other of shoplifters etc, is up and running and more shops are signing up to it, even Sainsbury which has resisted until now (except for Lloyds Bank and Clinton Cards).
There have been a few instances of theft from shops by the new intake of college students.  They were all caught on CCTV, identified and expelled. According to the PCSOs, this happens every new academic year but then dies down after a couple are caught.

Home Security
If something goes wrong, does Loughton Police Station have details of your current key-holders? All you need to do is to send an email, or send* or drop in a signed letter, stating your own details and detail of the current key-holders (address and all contact numbers - work, mobile, home). They will then enter the details onto their computer system. Any queries to 0300 333 4444 or Jon.Hounslow@essex.pnn.police.uk.
*Loughton Police Station, 158 High Road, IG10 4BE

Neighbourhood action panels and beat surgeries – meet your local police.
·    The Broadway: For dates and venue or contact NSO Sami Dawood; 03003334444; sami.dawood@essex.pnn.police.uk  

See also “In The Community” “police”

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