GRANGE Avenue in Highbridge has been revealed as the street with the highest reported crime levels in the area.
Avon and Somerset police’s latest crime statistics from May 2015 to April 2016 reveal that on average, there has been more than one reported crime a week on Grange Avenue for the past 12 twelve months.
Overall, there were almost four reported crimes a day in the Burnham and Highbridge area, with more than one incident of anti-social behaviour per day.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Some of these streets with shops, bars and clubs on, are always going to see more anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
“Sometimes you get these anti-social behaviour hotspots near to pubs and clubs.
“In Burnham-on-Sea, the police have a very effective Pub Watch scheme, something that they run with caravan clubs as well, and they also have ‘no drinking zones’ in the summer.”
The statistics show that supermarkets are the biggest crime hotspot, with 27 reported incidents of shoplifting alone, followed by Grange Avenue, which saw 56 incidents in total.
Other streets in the top 10 ten include Church Street, King Street, Gulliford Close in Highbridge, and Technical Street, College Street and Atlantic Crescent in Burnham-on-Sea.
The crimes on Grange Avenue included 35 reported incidents of shoplifting, and seven incidents of anti-social behaviour.
There were 93 reported crimes in and around supermarkets, including incidents of violent and sexual crime, criminal damage and arson, robbery, and drugs.
The spokesman added: “With violent and sexual crimes, they can range from verbal abuse all the way up to GBH.
“It’s really important in the context of managing the fear of crime to give that kind of context.
“Violent crime may not mean someone has thrown a punch, they may have just got a bit mouthy.”
Burnham and Highbridge’s crime hotspots were also revealed.
Church Street and King Street in Highbridge were high on the list, with 18 reported incidents of violent and sexual crime on each.
Technical Street was the road with the highest levels of crime in Burnham-on-Sea, with 16 reported incidents of shoplifting, as well as numerous violent and sexual offences and criminal damage.
Chief Inspector Lisa Simpson, local policing commander for Somerset West, said: “It’s important that our communities understand the facts that sit behind the numbers; statistics alone can be misleading and alarming, and don’t necessarily always reflect the true picture.
“The figures, in relation to Burnham, cover some high- footfall and busy shopping areas and other particular locations that affect crime figures, and alcohol sadly often plays a key role in anti-social behaviour and violence.
“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.”
THE top 10 ten crime hot spots in Burnham and Highbridge:
93 – On or near supermarkets
56 – Grange Avenue
46 – Church Street
35 – King Street
34 – On or near petrol stations
33 – On or near A38
31 – Gulliford Close
31 –Technical Street
25 – College Street
23 – Atlantic Crescent
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