BRIDGWATER’S crime hotspots have been revealed by police with anti-social behaviour and violent or sexual offences topping the list of reports.

The data was compiled and released by Avon and Somerset Police, with crimes reported from May 2015 and April 2016.

The figures revealed that from May 2015 until April 2016, there were a total of 5,292 crimes recorded in the Bridgwater area.

This equates to more than 14 crimes committed in the area a day.

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In the town centre, there were a total of 1,865 crimes reported.

Anti-social behaviour was the most frequently reported crime, with 736 reports in total, making up 35 per cent of the final results.

The next most reported was violence and sexual offences, with 433 reported, making almost 21 per cent of the final figure. Next was shoplifting with 225 reports, making up 10.9 per cent of the final figure.

Criminal damage and arson, theft, public order offences and burglary were also high on the list.

Of these crimes, 548 are still under investigation, with 484 crimes, left unresolved or no further action was taken. The remaining crimes were either dealt with by police at the time, or being dealt with by the courts.

The figures also show that officers were called to Eastover to deal with crimes more than any other street, being called there 122 times in the year. The next most common was Cornhill, at 116 times, and High Street 110 times.

In Bridgwater, excluding the town centre, there were a total of 3,427 crimes recorded.

There were 1,027 reports of anti-social behaviour, and 950 violent and sexual offences reported to police. This makes up more than 50 per cent of all crimes recorded in the area.

Other crimes high on the list were criminal damage and arson, public order, shoplifting and theft.

Of all the crimes, 42 per cent are still under investigation by officers, with 41 per cent left unresolved or no further action. The remaining are currently going through the courts.

Officers were called to supermarkets 126 times, a conference or exhibit 134 times, Turner Close 79 times and King George Avenue 64 times.

Steve Leahy, owner of Purple Tree Telecom on Eastover and chairman of the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said the new figures were a worry.

Mr Leahy said: “Speaking as a business owner on Eastover, the figures are a concern.

“I’m a little bit surprised, I have to say, but because there are a lot of small and independent shops in, maybe we haven’t got the finances to invest in the technology to stop the shoplifting.

“It is a concern for the growth of the Eastover area. More shops are being taken up now, but independent traders might look at the statistics and not want to come here.

“Any increase in crime is always a worry because it’s not going to help the town attract new businesses.”

Chief Inspector Lisa Simpson, Local Policing Commander for Somerset West, said: “We have seen an increase in the numbers of crimes reported both across the Constabulary and nationally.

"We believe this is due to a number of factors. Nationally, there has been an improvement in the way crime is recorded, and the police service across the country has seen a rise across all crime types due in part to these improvements.

“For the public’s peace of mind, it is important to note that the classification ‘sexual offences and violent crime’ includes a whole range of incidents, from low level verbal abuse to Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH). The term can be misleading, as it doesn’t necessarily mean any physical violence has occurred, and the majority of incidents will most likely be low-level public order offences.

"Likewise, the term ‘sexual assault’ is used to classify crimes ranging from touching over clothing to rape. This isn’t to say that so-called ‘lesser crimes’ are any less distressing for victims, but it is important to understand the make-up of the statistics.

“What is encouraging is that we believe that we have seen a rise in reporting within some crime areas that have been significantly underreported in the past such as domestic abuse, violent crime and some sexual offences.

“We have also undertaken work with our partners to educate and raise public awareness in relation to certain crime including positive changes in legislation (for example the recent introduction of legislation in relation to domestic abuse and “coercive and controlling behaviour”). If by educating the public it means we see an increase in reporting and less people suffer in silence as a result, then that is positive news. This means that more victims are receiving the support and protection they need, and potentially we have more opportunities to bring offenders to justice.

"A rise in reported crime isn’t always bad news.

“Obviously, we remain absolutely committed to preventing crime across Somerset. 

"Our world is ever-changing and we adapt to respond to emerging issues and public need. Some crime has increased as the social landscape has changed and technology has developed.

"We have obviously seen an increase in online crime in the last ten years for example, and we undertake training and adapt our workforce to respond accordingly.

“I live in Somerset and I firmly believe we have one of the safest counties in the country. People should be reassured that these figures are comparatively very low in relation to other areas.

"This doesn’t mean we are complacent; we remain absolutely dedicated to preventing and detecting crime in our community, supporting victims and working together to keep people safe."

BRIDGWATER TOWN CENTRE

A38 – 13

All Saints Terrace – 5

Allerton Road – 16

Axe Road – 20

Barclay Street – 8

Barhams Close – 5

Binford Place – 30

Blake Place – 4

Blake Street – 5

Boards Road – 5

Bond Street – 10

Broadway – 3

Bus station – 3

Capes Close 2

Carvers Road 12

Castle Moat 10

Castle Street 1

Chandos Street 12

Chapel Street – 40

Church Street – 8

Clare Street – 25

Colley Lane – 12

Cornhill – 116

Court Street – 75

Cranleigh Gardens – 27

Dampiet Street – 31

East Quay – 15

Eastover – 122

Friarn Street – 23

George Street  44

Gordon Terrace – 17

Grebe Close – 2

Grebe Road – 4

High Street – 110

Horsepond Lane – 4

Hospital 9

Kimberley Terrace 11

King Square 4

King Street 6

Kings place – 18

Lamb Lane – 50

Liberty Place – 57

Mallard Way 10

Mandarin Close 5

Market Street 27

Marsa Way 11

Merle Close – 1

New Road 10

Nightclub – 191

North Street – 3

Parking area 101

Penel Orlieu 4

Petrol station 38

Prices Lane 22

Priory Court 3

Quantock Terrace 16

Queen Street 35

Robins Drive 5

Salmon Parade 13

Sandpiper Close/Road 16

Shopping area 65

Silver Street 25

Sports/recreation area 109

St Mary Street – 46

St Saviours Avenue 14

Supermarket 14

Symons Way 17

Taunton Road

Teal Close 6

The Clink 73

Tone Drive 3

West Quay – 4

West Street – 1

Wylds Road – 16

Yeo Lane/Road – 8

Anti-social behaviour

736

35.64%

Bicycle theft

38

1.84%

Burglary

70

3.39%

Criminal damage and arson

124

6.00%

Drugs

27

1.31%

Other crime

6

0.29%

Other theft

163

7.89%

Possession of weapons

4

0.19%

Public order

153

7.41%

Robbery

11

0.53%

Shoplifting

225

10.90%

Theft from the person

22

1.07%

Vehicle crime

53

2.57%

Violence and sexual offences

433

20.97%

Bridgwater area (excluding town centre)

A 39 – 11

Adscombe Avenue – 19

Albion Close – 9

Alderney Road – 1

Alexandra Road 14

Allen Road 1

Almond Tree Close 6

Angus Way 2

Anson Way 8

Apple Tree Close 5

Arlington Close 1

Ash Close 2

Ash Grove Way 3

Ashford Close 23

Ashleigh Avenue 8

Ashleigh Terrace 9

Athlone Road 11

Avalon Road 4

Bagborough Drive 7

Bailey Street 9

Barrows Close 1

Bath Road 28

Bayford Road 9

Bedford Close 6

Beech Drive 2

Beech Road 8

Beechwood 40

Bell Close 24

Berry Close 7

Berrydale Avenue 24

Biddiscombe Close 2

Bncombe Road 6

Birch Close 8

Blackdown Road 5

Blacklands 12

Bloom Row 12

Blossom Close 19

Booth Way 7

Bower Avenue 36

Bower Fields 24

Bower Lane 4

Bradfied Close 1

Branksome Avenue 5

Brendon Road 10

Breton Close 1

Bristol Road 69

Brooklands 28

Bryer Close 10

Buckingham Close  2

Butleigh Close 1

Camden Road 14

Campion Way 2

Cannon Close 9

Cavalier Close 6

Cedar Close 1

Chamberlin Avenue 30

Charlton Close 25

Charnwood Close 1

Charolais Drive 2

Charter Close 43

Chatham Avenue 4

Cherry Close 1

Chestnut Close 2

Cheviout Street 1

Chidgey Close 4

Chillingham Drove 1

Chilton Close 11

Chilton Street 2

Church Meadow 5

Church Path 5

Claremont Grove 2

Clarks Road 2

Clipper close 6

Clover Way 8

Coleridge Green 16

Coleridge Road 11

Coleridge Square 29

College Way 7

On or near Conference exhibit 134

Cormorant Close 2

Cornborough Place 21

Cotswold Way 2

On or near Countess Avenue 1

Courtway Avenue 16

Crabourne Close 3

Crestfield Avenue 31

Cridlands Meadow 4

Cromwell Road 19

Crowpill Lane 25

Daisy Close 8

Davies Close 25

Daws Close 9

Deacon Road 29

Devonshire Street 8

Dexter Walk 14

Dorset Road 3

Drakes Close 12

Duke Street 4

Dukes Mead 3

Duncombe Close 1

Earls Close 4

Eastern Avenue 4

Eastwood Close 22

Edinburgh Road 14

Edward Street 16

Eight Acre Close 1

Eldergrove Close 5

Elizabeth Way 5

Elmgrove Close 2

Elmside Road 12

Elmwood Avenue 12

Emden Walk 5

Fairfax Close 3

Fairfax Road 24

Farthing Road 1

Fernleigh Avenue 9

Feversham Avenue 17

Fire Tree Close 1

Four Acre Meadow 3

Frampton Road 14

Frederick Road 4

Furlongs Avenue 4

Schools/college 24

Gloucester Road 24

Graves Close 6

Griffin Close 4

Hagget Close 2

Halsway 7

Hamp Avenue 26

Hamp Brook Way 17

Hamp Green Rise 1

Hamp Street 5

Hampton Close 1

Hawthorn Close 3

Hazelwood Drive 1

Heather Close 3

Hillgrove Close 8

Holly Close 1

Hornbeam Close 3

Hughes Close 1

Irene Close 2

Ivy Grove Close 24

Janson Close 4

Japonica Close 10

Jubilee Close 1

Kendale Road 29

Kensington Gardens 5

Kent Avenue 14

Kerry Close 33

Kestrel Close 5

Kidsbury Road 16

Kilburn Drive 5

King George Avenue 64

Kingsdown Close 3

Knightsbridge Way 1

Laburnum Close 2

Lakeside Park 40

Larch Close 3

Larkspur Road 7

Leeward Close 24

Leyton Drive 3

Lime Tree Close 1

Limousin Way 6

Linden Close 5

Linham Road 4

Linley Close 6

Longstone Avenue 27

Lower Bath Road 23

Loxleigh Avenue 9

Ludlow Close 7

Lyndale Avenue 12

Malborough Close 14

Malvern Close 3

Manor Road 3

Mariners Close 19

Marlborough Avenue 8

Mayflower Close 2

Meadowlands Avenue 2

Medip Road 11

Middlestream Close 19

Millwood Close 15

Milne Close 2

Monmouth Street 7

Moonraker Close 3

Moorland Road 9

Moorland Way 6

Moots Lane 7

Moravia Close 6

Moss close 15

Mount Street 15

Muscovy Drive 12

Myrtle Close 13

North Street 21

Oakgrove Way 10

Old Taunton Road 18

Orchid Way 2

Osborne Road 6

Oxford Terrace 2

Palm Tree Close 2

Palmer Close 1

Parkstone Avenue 1

Parkway 56

Peace Close 1

Pelham Court 2

Pembroke Road 2

Penlea Avenue

Penzoy Avenue 1

Petrol Close 10

Petrol Station 23

Pine Tree Close 6

Plum Lane 11

Plym Tree Close 1

Polden Street 17

Police station 7

Pollard Road 1

Popham Close 4

Poplar Road 1

Potterton Close 7

Purley Drive 10

Quayside 45

Queen’s Road 45

Raglan Close 4

Raleigh Close 11

Rambler War 3

Redgate Street 31

Reed Close 2

Rhode Lane 6

Richmond Close 1

Ringwood Road 2

Risemoor Road 8

River Lane 6

Riverside Close 6

Roberts Drive 8

Roe Close 3

Rosebery Avenue 12

Rowans Close 13

Russell Place 29

Saltlands 4

Saltlands Avenue 11

Samphire Walk 15

Sandalwood Ride 1

Sandown Close 6

Sandringham Close 2

Saxon Road 8

Saxony Place 11

Seaward Drive 2

Sedge Close 8

Sedgemoor Road 2

Selworthy Close 1

Severn Close 1

Seymour Road 2

Shearwater Close 1

Sheridan Close 2

Shervage Court 1

Shire Street 5

Shopping area 23

Smalens Close 1

Somerton Close 4

Somerville Way 4

Sorrel Drive 11

Sorrel Lane 10

Southgate Avenue 19

Sovereign Road 1

Spencer Close 3

Spillers Close 3

Sports/recreation 21

Springley Road 2

Squibbs Close 1

St Davids Court 6

St john Street 28

St Peters Court 1

Stafford Road 2

Standish Street 4

Stanley Close 5

Stockmoor Close 1

Stockmoor Drive 7

Stratton Close 2

Sully Close 4

Sultan Court 3

Sunnybank Road 6

Sunnymead 6

Supermarket 126

Sussex Close 1

Sydenham Close 32

Sydenham Road 23

Taunton Road 7

Teak Close 1

Teeswater Walk 14

The Copse 2

Thompson Close 22

Thorncombe Crescent 39

Toulouse Road 2

Tracey Close 6

Trevor Road 5

Trinity Way 2

Tudor Way 3

Tulip Walk 2

Tulip Tree Road 2

Turner close 79

Tynte Road 1

Union Street 17

Valetta Place 2

Victoria Road 13

Viscount Square 1

Wadham Close 16

Walton Close 3

Warren Close 33

Watermans meadow 10

Waverley Road 21

Weacombe Road 16

Wellington Road 14

Wessex Cloxe 4

Western Way 1

Westonzoyland Road 26

Westwood Road 4

Willow Court 2

Willow Walk 2

Wills Road 1

Windsor Road 3

Witches Walk 8

Withy Grove Close 2

Wolmer Close 1

Wordsworth Avenue 6

Wye Avenue 2

Wyndham Road 11

York Road 15

Zeta Close 4

Anti-social behaviour

1027

29.97%

Bicycle theft

52

1.52%

Burglary

156

4.55%

Criminal damage and arson

390

11.38%

Drugs

84

2.45%

Other crime

31

0.90%

Other theft

213

6.22%

Possession of weapons

16

0.47%

Public order

215

6.27%

Robbery

8

0.23%

Shoplifting

177

5.16%

Theft from the person

8

0.23%

Vehicle crime

100

2.92%

Violence and sexual offences

950

27.72%