Taxi Driver Online

Cash to help war on Wellingborough's drunken yobs

Crimebusters have been given thousands of pounds to fight anti-social behaviour.

Wellingborough Crime and Disorder Safety Partnership has won a bid for £43,000 of Government funding.

Most of the cash will be used for drink awareness campaigns and training, as well as CCTV units for taxis. The money will also buy a weapon arch to detect knives.

Those in the frontline fight against crime welcomed the funding, but believe much wider CCTV coverage and anti-crime campaigns are needed to end the problem.

Deborah Turnell, owner of Urban Knights pub in Cambridge Street, Wellingborough, said: "It will make a difference but it will only be a deterrent.

"There needs to be CCTV and metal detectors everywhere in the town centre to stamp it out.

"There should be posters up everywhere to tell everyone there are metal detectors. You really need to put it in front of people's faces."

Wellingborough has received £30,000 funding from the Home Office for Alcohol Related Partnership Activity and £13,000 from the Government Office for the East Midlands for tackling violent crime.

Some of the money is being used for community outreach operations, where organisations such as Wellingborough Council, police and charities are working together to tackle deep rooted problems.

Wellingborough charity Service Six is sending outreach workers to the Queensway, Hemmingwell and Kingsway estates. The aim is to engage disaffected young people in positive community activities.

Cash will also buy 10 CCTV units for taxi cabs, although drivers who take one will have to contribute half of the cost.

Andy Clarke, secretary of Wellingborough Hackney Carriage Association, said he would feel much safer with one of the CCTV units, which cost about £350.

He said: " If you are in a saloon car it makes a real difference because you do not have a screen between driver and passenger."

He said drivers have been threatened with knives while working in Wellingborough.

Earlier this month taxi driver Samuel Obeng was badly beaten.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin