Police pledge to make Bowthorpe better

Peter WalshA newly-promoted inspector has called on people living in Bowthorpe and Costessey to let officers know what issues are affecting them so they can work to make the area a nicer place to live.Peter Walsh

A newly-promoted inspector has called on people living in Bowthorpe and Costessey to let officers know what issues are affecting them so they can work to make the area a nicer place to live.

Inspector Rob Wicks has joined the local Neighbourhood Policing Team bringing with him eight years' policing experience in Norfolk and has vowed to crackdown on yobs who blight the lives of people living in the area.

Families living in Bowthorpe and Costessey have suffered at the hands of anti-social youths tearing round streets and footpaths in the area on motorbikes and scooters.

The issue was raised as a priority by members of the public last year and prompted the police to launch high visibility patrols of problem areas including Peverell Road.

Insp Wicks said a continued crackdown on anti-social motorcyclists had proved successful, but wanted members of the public to let him and his team know what their current concerns were.

He said: 'We targeted some people known to be offenders in the past and have had success surrounding that (motorcycle anti-social behaviour).

'Over the winter there's a notable decrease in that type of behaviour and there's a number of people we've targeted who are up in court in the not too distant future in regard to their anti-social behaviour and we're looking to get some criminal anti-social behaviour orders (Crasbos) on them.'

Insp Wicks said one of his priorities would be to work with people in the neighbourhood to try and deal with the things that are affecting them the most.

He said: 'I would really urge anyone from the area to contact the team and we will do what we can to make Bowthorpe and Costessey a nicer place to live.'

Insp Wicks has worked in response, neighbourhood policing and the CID in Norwich and the surrounding area. In 2007, he became a Sergeant in Norwich city centre and has since worked at Mile Cross Police Station.

Insp Wicks replaces Inspector Kate Thacker who has been the leading police officer in the Bowthorpe and Costessey neighbourhood for the past year. She has been posted to Bethel Street Police Station as a detective inspector.

To contact Bowthorpe and Costessey Neighbourhood Policing Team call 0845 456 4567 or email sntbowthorpeandcostessey@norfolk.pnn.police.uk

Have you got a story about anti-social behaviour in Bowthorpe or Costessey? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk