When the City of Lincoln Council announced that it was going to tackle the “complexity” of the city’s drug and anti-social behaviour problem, it was met with a mixed response fuelled by cynicism and frustration with the system.
The sight of vulnerable people lying on the pavement or next to the Brayford has wained on the publicand grown a lack of confidence in the authority to come up with a suitable plan. Proposals to tackle the problem are either too late or will not solve what has been an issue for many years, they say. Others claim the council’s strategy to close “intimidating” areas, such as St Peter’s Passage, and send out the intervention team to help the addicted will only move the issue elsewhere.
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Tom Snowden, who is one of the newly appointed recovery workers, said the project will “deal with the crux” of the city’s anti-social behaviour problem. Along with Yvette Hall, who is seconded from her security role at Lincon BIG, the pair will be soon joined by a mental health worker to complete the council’s vision.
Tom Snowden and Yvette Hall, City of Lincoln Council intervention team members.
Visibility is key to the public’s confidence in the system. It is a complex problem, blighted by mental health issues, lack of outreach and long overdue authority co-operation, which the police and the council insist this new team will tackle.
But until fewer people are seen hanging around alleyways or collapsed on the pavement, the public and the businesses alike will not be convinced that it is working.
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Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
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Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!