MP's claims about street problems anger residents

Reform's Pochin hit back at what she described as "baseless accusations"

Angry residents have criticised their MP after she claimed their street had been blighted by violence and anti-social behaviour caused by illegal immigration.

Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire, said in a video posted on Facebook she had received "disturbing reports" from residents and businesses about incidents happening in Greenway Road, Runcorn.

Residents said this portrayal of their street was "untrue" while Cheshire Constabulary said it had received no such reports.

Pochin hit back at some of the criticism, condemning what she described as "baseless accusations", "personal attacks" and "political smears".

The MP made claims in her video about houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) housing immigrants causing violence, anti-social behaviour, rubbish "strewn around the streets" and "potential domestic abuse".

But an open letter written by the warden of St Michael and All Angels church, Robert Littler, claimed Pochin was trying to fulfil a "personal agenda".

Mr Littler, who has lived in the street for 30 years, accused the MP of "scaremongering and hate-stirring and talking down a town which you were elected to represent".

Some residents said Sarah Pochin did not speak for them

He added: "My own daughters, aged 27, 20 and 18 respectively, walk our family dog at all hours of the night and feel very safe."

Mr Littler said the HMOs had existed for years, housing many types of people, "mostly white British".

He suggested Pochin could not know if there were any illegal immigrants in the properties unless she asked for their documentation.

Lynne Delaney, 74, who has lived on Greenway Road for nearly 40 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service Pochin did not speak for her.

"The only anti-social behaviour I've witnessed is high-spirited teenagers who tend to grow out of it," she said.

Julie Collins-Powell, 47, who has lived on the road for eight years, added: "We are a lovely community. Not anything that she has said is real. The HMOs don't cause any problems."

Meetings planned

A Cheshire Police spokesman said issues highlighted in the video did not match any incidents reported to the force, or to residents' concerns.

He added that Chief Constable Mark Roberts had contacted Pochin several times since she was elected and said they would meet on 4 August.

Pochin said the open letter "contains numerous falsehoods, personal attacks, and political smears that bear no resemblance to the reality on the ground".

She added she was first made aware of issues on Greenway Road "because local residents and business owners contacted me directly. Their concerns included problems with HMOs and anti-social behaviour".

"I will not apologise for listening to residents, raising their concerns, or pushing for action," she added.

The Reform MP said it was "baseless" to say she was "stirring hate", adding: "I have always called for respectful, fact-based discussion, and will continue to do so."