Late-night disorder in town centre now a police priority

PREVENTING disorder in Melksham’s town centre has been made a priority by the local community policing team.

According to statistics for the last six months, incidents in the town centre account for 20% of the demand on police in Melksham. 

The relaxing of lockdown restrictions and an increase in disorder related to the “night-time economy” in the town centre has been blamed for the demand.

Speaking at last week’s Melksham Area Board, Inspector Andy Fee explained that having a high police visibility in the town centre, “especially on Friday and Saturday nights”, had been set as a priority for the policing team.

Night-time disorder in the town centre has also been a recent concern to residents of the High Street who say they have seen a rise in drunk and disorderly behaviour since lockdown restrictions were lifted.

Police also recently warned visitors to the town centre that the area was not a place for “drunken grudges” following a number of incidents, including a disorder in the early hours of Sunday 2nd August. 

“In particular you’ll be aware that there was a disorder outside the Parsons Nose and also outside the Market Lounge, which we still have some investigations ongoing in relation to that,” said Inspector Andy Fee speaking at the area board meeting.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work, working with our partner agencies, working with Wiltshire Council, making sure that we’ve been speaking to the licensees of those premises and making sure they are complying with the Covid regulations, which are really important, and also in relation to licensing regulations – warnings have gone to the licensees of the Market Lounge and Parsons Nose.

“James Twyford, the neighbourhood sergeant, and Martin O’Neill Wiltshire Police licensing officer have done a lot of work with both of those establishments. 

“And we are putting a lot of time and resources into making sure that we prevent any disorder in the Melksham town centre area.”