People 'afraid to speak out' over antisocial crime

Councillor Steve Holland said people were afraid of what would happen to them

A councillor in Grimsby has said people are afraid to intervene during incidents of antisocial behaviour.

Steve Holland, an independent member of North East Lincolnshire Council told BBC Politics North members of the public were scared to "speak out" because of possible repercussions.

Dame Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North and Cottingham, told the programme antisocial behaviour was a 'terrible blight' on communities, and she wanted people to report it.

Holland's comments follow an incident on Tuesday on an estate in Grimsby, when some residents said they had to flee their homes after five vehicles were set on fire.

Humberside Police arrested two men on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson following the incident.

Holland said: "people are afraid to speak out.

"When I was a kid, any sort of bad antisocial behaviour from teenagers and youngsters, people would be prepared to come out and say, 'look clear off' whatever, and there would be a robust response from the police.

"I think now more and more people are actually afraid to do that, because they're afraid of repercussions and what's going to happen to them and their own properties."

Dame Diana said: "I think people in the past haven't reported because they think nothing will happen, nothing will change."

The MP, who is minister of state for the Department of Work and Pensions, reiterated that the government was delivering 3,000 more police officers this year and said new powers that were being introduced for the police would help them tackle such behaviour.

"People are saying to me they are seeing that increased presence in their local area," she said.

Luke Campbell, Mayor for Hull and East Yorkshire, also appeared on the programme as part of the discussion. He said people wanted safe public spaces and safe public transport in the evening.

"I would love to see more police officers on the street," he said.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices