— Lucy Rigby is Lincoln Labour’s parliamentary candidate.
Over the last couple of weeks, a considerable number of residents have raised with me their concerns about the effect of the reorganisation of policing in Lincoln.
Obviously these are substantial changes for our local police and I think many peoples’ concerns stem from the lack of clear information available as to the detail of the plans and the lack of any consultation.
For example, just taking the issue of West Parade’s disposal, when one woman heard that her local police centre was likely to be replaced with a shop front she got in touch with me to ask if I knew anything further about this.
She told me that she’s worried that the new premises sound a great deal smaller than the existing station and wanted to know how it could house the necessary police and specialist resources to maintain the same level of service provision. She was also concerned that the police’s response times would be affected.
The proposals appear to be emerging in a gradual way, and we need to make sure that whatever changes are going to be made don’t impact on the quality of policing in Lincoln.
A proper consultation seems the best way to do this and I think that’s what Lincoln residents deserve. I assume that the relevant impact assessments must have been done — perhaps these could be shared with people to address concerns.
I don’t think this is a party political issue. In fact a few of the people who’ve got in touch with me have told me they are usually Conservative voters. I also know that some local City Councillors are concerned themselves about the changes and have had this issue raised at their surgeries.
The number one priority has to be public safety. We all want a police force which is fit for purpose and Lincoln residents need to be sure that this reorganisation won’t put that in jeopardy.
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Lucy Rigby is Lincoln Labour's candidate to be the city's next MP. She is a solicitor and lives in central Lincoln.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A shop in Spalding with a long history of licensing problems is again incurring the wrath of Lincolnshire Police next week.
The force’s licensing team have submitted evidence to South Holland District Council either objecting to applications, or calling for a review of businesses at 34 Westlode Street – formerly Delicja, but now operating as A2Z Food Express – a total of 15 times since 2018.
On Tuesday, they will again argue that Saglar Ahmat’s application to Vary a Premises Licence by taking off two conditions limiting the number and strength of beers, lagers and ciders sold, should not be approved.
The force said the conditions “assist the operator in limiting their impact on an existing problem area” which is covered by a Public Space Protection Order for street drinking, littering, spitting, urination and defecation.
There are currently two licenses associated with the premises, one which has been revoked and has been taken to appeal and a new licence. Both are currently under Mr Ahmat’s name.
Licensing Officer Gina McConville, in a 30 page report to councillors, outlined the history of the premises’ licence holders and its connections to smuggled goods and laundering – including alcohol and cigarettes.
She said a recent check continued to find failures to comply with licensing conditions – including failure to price mark single cans of foreign beer, which she said was “an indicator of smuggled goods”.
“In total for this one premises Lincolnshire Police have submitted 15 separate pieces of work since 2018 in an effort to stop individuals with proven links to criminality obtaining the licence or remaining in a position of control on the licence.
“There is still great concern remaining as to who’s behind the premises and… little confidence that issues with licence compliance and objectives will ever be taken seriously and resolved.”
The premises previously operated as Delicja. Photo: Google Maps
She told councillors the applicant needed to “understand their place and impact in the community” and “put licensing objectives before profit”.
“The applicant has offered no other conditions that would assist in limiting his premises effect.
“Without these conditions the premises will be adding to the issues which created the need for the PSPO in the first place and that need remains as the PSPO has been reviewed and remains in place.
“Lincolnshire Police has concerns in the applicant’s ability due to the previous failure to price mark and non‐compliance with conditions on a revoked premise licence. These very conditions will assist him all the more.”
A female passenger in her 20s has sadly lost her life in a crash on the A16 at Utterby near Louth on Tuesday night.
The road was closed on Tuesday night following a serious crash on the Main Road near to the junction of Ings Lane, involving a black Vauxhall Corsa and a grey Citroen Vibe at around 9.45pm.
The passenger of the Citroen, a woman in her 20s, died at the scene of the crash, while the driver, a man in his late teens, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Corsa was a woman in her 70s and she was also taken to hospital with injuries described as serious.
The road was closed overnight while emergency services cleared the area and reopened at 10am on Wednesday morning.
Police are now making inquiries into the journeys of both vehicles prior to the collision, and would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the crash.
Officers have drawn up a list of vehicles that were reported as travelling in convoy on the A16 just before the incident, and would like to speak to anyone in the following cars at that time:
White coloured Ford Fiesta van
Dark coloured Mercedes A Class
Silver coloured Ford Fiesta
Dark coloured Vauxhall Astra
The force would also like to speak to anyone with dashcam footage that travelled between Utterby and Louth on the A16 between 9-10pm on Tuesday, October 26, regardless of what it may show.
If you have any information or footage, contact police by calling 101 or emailing [email protected] and quoting incident 399 of October 26.
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