North West Leicestershire Police have questioned a survey which suggested that 44 per cent of respondents felt unsafe in Ashby town centre.

The results of the Purple Flag survey were presented to this month's meeting of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council's planning committee.

Town Centre Manager, Stuart Benson, said that along with the 44 per cent figure, 54 per cent said that 'the atmosphere in town is getting worse'.

He added: "It's not showing a great picture.

"The appearance of the town, 51.6 per cent is getting worse, ease of parking 62.7 per cent feel it's getting worse."

It was added that the majority of respondents were visiting the town centre before 9pm.

This was queried by Inspector Steve Burge, who also attended the meeting to represent North West Leicestershire Police.

He said that the survey results did not reflect 'the demand profile' - and added that the police had seen an overall reduction in crime in the town, which the survey results contradicted. 

When people were asked in the survey - which has to be submitted by October 5 - as to how the situation could be improved, the top answer was 'more police'. 

The Town Centre Manager added: "Two hundred people said they'd like to see more of a police presence in the town.

"Second was improved safety, third was increased CCTV.

Insp Steve Burge. Photo: North West Leicestershire Police

"Looking at overall safety campaigns in the town and what people would like to see in place, the top answer was anti-social behaviour, then drugs followed by violence reduction."

Cllr Carl Benfield asked if there was a breakdown of the survey by time period - as behaviour tends to be worse later at night.

That was when the Town Centre Manager commented about the answers referring to pre-9pm rather than later.

But the Deputy Town Clerk pointed out that there had been a negative Facebook post prompting people to respond to the survey which may have 'skewed the results'. The Town Centre Manager supported the suggestion.

Cllr Murrae Blair-Park said that there seemed to be a lack of understanding from the public - and that it needs to be made clearer on what is being done to keep the town safe, such as street pastors, rangers, licensed door staff, CCTV, DISC, police etc. 

Cllr John Coxon asked if the new street lights were likely to help and the Town Centre Manager replied that it could only be a good thing.

But Cllr Bigby commented that there seemed to be a very different demographic for this survey, compared with the previous Purple Flag survey and this was perhaps skewing the data. 

Inspector Burge said that the police identify priorities each quarter – and that drug and alcohol offences had reduced, as well as other crime categories. 

Cllr Damilola Ojuri asked if the police could work with schools with regards to preventing potential kidnapping and other safeguarding-related crimes - this followed a recent incident involving a van driver trying to entice a school child into their vehicle. 

Sergeant Cat Fletcher, also present at the meeting, explained that a beat officer had visited the school and surrounding areas and enquiries were ongoing.