Laura Bagshaw CRIME in Gorleston has been cut by a third in the last four months. In April, 86 were recorded and last month that figure had been slashed to 52 - dropping more than a third.

Laura Bagshaw

CRIME in Gorleston has been cut by a third in the last four months.

In April, 86 were recorded and last month that figure had been slashed to 52 - dropping more than a third.

The figures were revealed during Gorleston Safer Neighbourhood Team's recent KIN meeting (Key Individual Network) held at St Peters Church in the town last Wednesday .

Officers from the team met with local residents to review past priorities and to set future proposals.

Insp Richard Graveling, who recently took over as head of Gorleston SNT from Insp Paul McCarthy, said he had been impressed with the work already in the town to target crime adding he hoped to continue with that trend.

For the past two months the team has focused on speeding as one of its priorities in Lowestoft Road, Baker Street, Beach Road, Marine Parade, Springfield Road, Bells Road, England's Lane and Church Lane.

Insp Graveling said officers from Acle Road Traffic Policing had carried out speed checks on more than 1,000 vehicles in the town during various times in August which revealed the average speed on High Road was 21mph.

During the checks officers handed out 17 verbal warnings to drivers and two fixed penalty notices.

Last month the Mercury joined the team during a routine speed check where cars were clocked at an average speed of 25mph on Lowestoft Road. Police said that problems with speeding were often a case of misconception with cars appearing to travel faster.

Insp Graveling said the team had received several complaints about speeding and in recent weeks had allowed complainants to take part in speed checks. “People could see for themselves that where they thought people were going fast the speed gun showed they were generally within the limit,” he said.

Officers have also been tackling rogue parking in and around the High Street and so far 59 tickets have been handed out.

Residents heard that the problem with youngsters jumping off the breakwater and into the sea, dubbed tombstoning, had been greatly improved.

Community support officer Melanie Johnston-Smalley said on hot days last year the team would get between four and five calls in one day compared to one call a week now.

Anti-social behaviour around Bells Road is another priority the team has addressed in the last two months and Yarmouth Borough Council is currently undergoing an eviction process for certain people living in the area.

New priorities for the team are to focus on rogue parking in Baker Street and Church Lane, issues around anti-social behaviour on Halloween and Bonfire night and to tackle anti-social behaviour connected with licensed premises.