Rise in anti-social behaviour in Taunton and Wellington highlighted by shocking incidents

Figures show there has been a 26 per cent increase in reports of anti-social behaviour crimes in Taunton, with a seven per cent increase in Wellington.

According to the data from police.uk, there were 1,220 ASB-related crimes from April 2016-17 in Taunton and Wellington. The year after, there were 1,489.

The analysis comes as police were called to two horrific incidents in the towns.

Police were called to Wellington Park on Sunday evening (June 10) to reports teenagers were using drugs.

A brawl broke out involving around 30 young people, in which four police officers were assaulted and two teenage girls were arrested.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of theft and assaulting an officer and has been released under investigation.

A 13-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer and causing a breach of the peace.

Two other people were arrested, but then ‘de-arrested’ and left with their parents for fears they had been taking drugs and were advised to seek medical attention.

Sgt Stuart Williams, of the neighbourhood team, said: “Families with young children and other members of the community should be able to enjoy an afternoon in the park without having to endure this shocking level of anti-social behaviour involving what is a small minority of the town’s teenagers.

RELATED: Police investigating brawl in Wellington Park

“Officers were subjected to aggressive, hostile and violent behaviour throughout.

“This is completely unacceptable and we’ll be carrying out an investigation into what happened, including a full review of officers’ body-worn video camera footage.

“We’re working hard to tackle ASB in Wellington and we’ll continue to target our patrols to areas affected by this type of disorder.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated and we’d ask parents and carers to work with us by making sure they know where their children are and who they’re with.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident should call 101 and quote reference number 5218127214.

In a separate incident in Taunton, officers are trying to trace a number of people in relation to an incident which allegedly saw two people attacked by a group of men armed with a plank of wood with nails in it.

RELATED: Two men reportedly attacked in Taunton by group armed with plank of wood with nails in it

A police spokesman said: “Police are appealing for help to trace the people in this CCTV as part of their investigation into an apparent unprovoked assault on two men in Taunton.

“The pair reported that they were set upon as they walked home from a night out.”

The incident happened at about 12.30am on Saturday, June 2, in Fore Street.

The men, aged 22 and 25, and from Taunton, told officers they were attacked by four people using a plank of wood with nails in it.

The police spokesman added: “Officers recovered the suspected weapon abandoned in a litter bin in Fore Street.”

One of the suspects was described as a man with dark blond hair, clean shaven, who was wearing green shorts and a blue T-shirt.

CCTV shows people who were in the area at around the time of the reported incident and officers would like them to come forward to help with the investigation. Anyone with information on this incident should call 101 and quote reference 5218120153.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, said the rise in crime could be down to longer and brighter days, as well as budget cuts across the public sector.

Last month, the PCC held a community event in Wellington, where residents attended told her their concerns for policing in the town. The subject of anti-social behaviour was discussed at length.

She said: “Everyone has the right to live in a community free from anti-social behaviour, where they are safe and feel safe.

“ASB, in whatever form it takes place, hurts people’s daily lives.

“Local people regularly raise this issue with me and it was a hot topic at my latest community surgery, in Wellington.

“With longer, lighter days and better weather people will naturally enjoy being outdoors and may not understand the anti-social nature of their street-drinking and loud music.

“Budget cuts across the public sector, affecting local community groups, also means there’s a decline in the number of places across our communities where people can go and socialise.

“I know how important neighbourhood policing teams are to residents.

“I also know they would like more police on their streets and I have already made the commitment to protect neighbourhood policing funding in this year’s budget. If anti-social behaviour is happening please keep telling us, so we can address it.”