CRIME commissioner Nick Alston has called on Southend Council to control the number of bedsits in the York Road area in a bid to curb violent crime.

Mr Alston, Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, said the council needed to do its bit to tackle a 26.7 per cent increase in serious violent crime from last year.

He also suggested a late-night levy – where licence holders fund extra policing – should be given serious consideration.

Crime has continued to rise in that area of Southend after Mohammed Hassan Ibrahim died after being stabbed in York Road on July 7.

Mr Alston said: “Tackling issues such as this requires a multi-agency approach. I would urge Southend Council to continue working closely with Essex Police to help reduce crime by, for example, giving serious consideration to the introduction of a late-night levy on licensed premises and controlling the spread of houses of multiple occupancy. We all have a role to play in tackling crime and making our communities safer.”

However, Mike Assenheim, a Shoebury independent councillor and the borough’s police liaison from the council, called on police to be more pro-active.

Councillors have already demanded police officers enforce a section 60 stop and search – where police can search anyone they feel likewithout needed suspicion.

Mr Assenheim said the council was tackling the rise of bedsits, or houses of multiple occupancy.

He said: “The council is trying to abolish the problems with landlords letting out properties as HMOs. We have a scheme with the landlords’ alliance and are speaking with the council about an agreement between us and the police. The chairman of the licencing committee is very pro a levy.

“I am trying to work closely with Essex Police, which is why I have contacted Nick Alston. I know there is a shortage of manpower, but they have to be more proactive.

“The day after the shooting I went down to the scene. In broad daylight, at 5pm, within a hundred yards of the last shooting and with two uniforms in sight, two prostitutes offered me their services. People are emailing me saying they are now frightened to go out.”

A man was stabbed in the groin on September 12 and a boy aged 17 was shot in the leg on on Sunday, September 21, both in York Road.

Another man was stabbed in the leg in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, on Thursday, September 18.

Residents agree with crime commissioner

RESIDENTS have rejoiced at Nick Alston's comments after calling for a halt on houses of multiple occupancy for years.

Keith Kelsey, who has recently become chairman of a new residents association covering the York Road area, said: “Nick Alston’s comments are excellent news.

“It seems as though everyone is singing from the same song sheet now. The council haven’t wanted to admit that HMOs are the problem.

“HMOs definitely contribute to crime. If you didn’t have HMOs I doubt we would have this problem.

But also if they have bad living conditions they are going to be fed up, depression kicks in, and they can turn to drink and drugs, then these problems happen.

We want compulsory purchase orders put on these bad HMOs.

Meanwhile, Trevor Bell, 69, of Holland Road, Westcliff, said his neighbourhood was resembling a slum due to the number of residents living in HMOs.

He added: “The quality of some are so poor the area literally becomes a slum and that does attract crime to the area.”

DON’T BLAME US FOR THE BEHAVIOUR OF OUR TENANTS, SAY LANDLORDS

A GROUP of landlords claim it is not their fault that unruly tenants are bringing down the area.

Judith Codarin, secretary of the South East Alliance of Landlords, Agents and Residents, said the demand for bedsits, or houses of multiple occupancy, would continue to rise as more people require cheap rental accommodation.

Support for vulnerable residents was needed to stop them falling into a downward spiral of drink, drugs and crime, she said.

Ms Codarin, who is a landlord herself, said: “If there aren’t HMOs where are these people going to go?

There’s already a huge pressure across the whole country for rental accommodation.

“We as a society must provide for them if we are not prepared to pick up the pieces.

“The support is not strong enough and these vulnerable people are just left to misbehave.

How can the landlords prevent that when they are taking on vulnerable people, ex-prisoners and people without references.

“We are setting up street groups in the areas to do street blitzes.

They will say what the concerns are for that street, be it rubbish collections, antisocial behaviour or the condition of a property. We will use intelligence and the council will prosecute either the landlords or tenants.”

SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME ON INCREASE

Comparing September 2013 and August 2014.

Serious violent crime – 147 incidents (2013) – 31 more (2014) – 26.7 per cent increase

House burglary (including attempts) – 898 incidents – 122 fewer – 12 per cent reduction

Robbery – 205 incidents – 82 fewer– 28.6 per cent reduction

Criminal damage – 1,673 incidents – 212 fewer– 11.2 per cent reduction

Vehicle crime (thefts from and of) – 1,411 incidents – 1,553 fewer – 9.1 per cent reduction