‘We are doing our very, very best’ says Rushden officer policing town amid spate of youth and vehicle crime

Sergeant Leigh Goodwin was joined by Ruth Maher Inspector for Wellingborough and East Northants, and colleagues from Bedfordshire Police responsible for nearby Wymington.

The meeting at Rushden Hall attended by more than two dozen people included residents and partners from the Community Safety Partnership.

Insp Maher told attendees the neighbourhood team was tackling recent crime trends under two operations – ‘Op Prow’ concentrating on a spate of vehicle crimes and ‘Op Pyjama’ a cross-border operation to safeguard children who are involved in crimes across the area.

She said: “We have an issue of youths coming over from Wymington stealing motorbikes, drug dealing and also using weapons. There’s a gang culture. We are having meetings looking at how we can safeguard them.”

A recent incident in High Street, Rushden, saw teenagers reportedly fighting with machetes. One youth was discovered with one of the weapons. The inspector said many of the children were living with several issues including with school attendance and housing.

Insp Maher said: “We are dealing with children from low incomes, from broken homes, or in local authority care. We need to put a stop to offending behaviours.”

Highlighting how the town had changed, resident Lee Branson said that 40 years ago Rushden was policed by one police officer on a bike who would ‘clip you round the ear’ if you did something wrong.

The inspector said that police would go to houses ‘where parents don’t care’, have alcohol and drug addictions and children are ‘left to their own devices’.

Sgt Goodwin added: “When they come to our attention it’s often too late.”

But in the summer of 2024, action from the community safety partnership intervened with a group of youngsters who had set fires across the town. After working with the young people reoffending had been reduced by between 60 and 90 per cent.

Speaking of Op Prow to tackle vehicle crime, people shared their experiences of trying to report incidents to Northants Police, voicing their frustrations with the 101 system or being told to go online despite speaking face-to-face with members of the force.

Lee Branson explained after his truck was broken into. He tracked down the perpetrator using neighbourhood doorbell CCTV. After struggling due to dyslexia to use the police’s online platform to report his findings, he asked officers in his street in person for help – but he was told they couldn’t assist him and he should use the online portal.

He said: “Nobody was interested. It’s just frustrating.”

Another resident said when she had reported a car break-in online, the crime report she made could not be updated to add CCTV images of the suspect to help officers.

Speaking to the Northants Telegraph after the meeting, the resident said the theft had caused her older neighbours disquiet and altered their perception of their risk of crime in the town.

Answering why her officers did not chase illegal e-bikes in police cars, Sgt Leigh Goodwin explained the risks of pursuing youngsters on Surrons – something which can only be done by pursuit-trained officers.

She said: “The safest option is to not light up that vehicle. They [the e-bike riders] will do wheelies, go in and out of the traffic. There’s loads of things we take into account – are they wearing a helmet? The light, road conditions. They [pursuit trained officers] have to be authorised. We have to follow specific guidelines.”

A recent Rushden resident said he had been shocked by the drug dealing he had witnessed in the town but thought a police hub in the town centre could help.

Sgt Goodwin added: “We are trying. We are doing our very, very best. Year on year there has been a 75 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour, thanks to dedication by officers.

“We are not mind readers. People need to keep reporting each crime, every time so we can see the whole picture.”

Resident and recent Street Watch volunteer Reg Challinor thanked Sgt Goodwin and her team for their dedication.

After the meeting Lee Branson said: “This is just a PR stunt. I was so frustrated they didn’t have the time to help. I want something to be done about it.”