Volunteers at Great Central Railway Nottingham (GCRN) now have some more unexpected and unwelcome work to do after trespassers at the Ruddington site decided to spray graffiti onto one of the 125 Group‘s recently restored MK3 coaches.
The Heritage Centre is already facing great financial challenges thanks to the Coronavirus – having been unable to run any passenger services from there since the February half-term last year. Whilst not on the scale of the vandalism in 2019, it’s still very upsetting and disheartening for all those involved. This latest, mindless act was discovered last month – when David Mulligan took the photograph above. Since then, police enquiries have been underway to identify those responsible. They’re hoping that sharing this image now will encourage anyone with further information to come forward – anonymously if they wish – quoting reference 21000052078.
GCRN Director Phil Stanway says: “As if things aren’t difficult enough during the current restrictions, with very little income for nearly twelve months, damage such as this only uses up more of our depleted cash reserves in a way we really cannot afford. Whilst we struggle through the current pandemic, actions such as this make it harder for the railway in many ways. We would appeal to the public to be vigilant when in the area and report anything you may see.”
Whilst it’s of little comfort to GCRN and others who have been impacted by such criminal behaviour, at least we can welcome the broader news from Nottinghamshire Police that, countywide, crime has reduced by a nearly a fifth in the last year.
It compiles local data each month from every part of its policing area – and tallies with the latest figures just released for Ruddington by Rushcliffe Police (see below). These indicate that there were only FOUR crimes recorded via 101 in our village during the whole of January 2021 – the lowest number RUDDINGTON.info has ever reported. The force highlights increased Neighbourhood Policing, with targeted action to tackle crimes which have the biggest impact on communities, such as drug dealing and violence, as ways it has driven offences down.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford says: “The fact that crime has reduced by nearly a fifth is great news for the people of Nottinghamshire as this means fewer victims. Our officers and staff have continued to deliver on behalf of the communities we serve. In real terms it means there were nearly 20,000 fewer crimes affecting our communities than the previous year and I hope that gives people reassurance that Nottinghamshire Police continues to work extremely hard for them regardless of COVID.”
He admits: “Whilst some of the crime reduction here and elsewhere is a result of more people staying indoors during spells of national lockdown – the fact that Nottinghamshire Police’s reduction started well before COVID, is twice as large as the national average and has continued over a sustained period means this is a genuine reduction from targeted and proactive policing.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping says the force is determined to continue to invest in frontline policing: “We can clearly see that the focus on frontline police officer is paying dividends. Crime is reducing at a faster rate here than in most other areas, we are tackling the issues that matter to people. Knife crime is coming down while issues such as burglary and vehicle crime are being addressed and we can see reductions there too.”
He adds: “We are doing everything we can to maintain the momentum of these reductions, so that people feel even safer in their homes and neighbourhoods.”
Ruddington crimes reported via 101 for the month from 1st January to 31st January 2021
17-24th: Unknown suspect removed front and rear number plates from a vehicle parked on Flawforth Lane.
18-23rd: Over a few days graffiti has been done to a carriage within the heritage site.
19th: Overnight unknown suspect has removed catalytic convertor from a car parked on St Mary’s Crescent.
28th: Female entered Sainsbury’s and selected items and left without making payment.
If you have further information about any of the crimes listed above, or may have captured CCTV footage which could help, you’re asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
