Ipswich: 41 crimes reported in Lloyds Avenue area in March

Figures on the Police UK Crime Map show that in the Lloyds Avenue area of the town, which includes the Sailmakers shopping centre, show that 41 crimes were reported in March.

Twenty-nine of these were shoplifting-related, with seven being violence and sexual offences, one being bike crime, and four relating to all other crime.

According to the Police UK database, 19 of the 41 crimes were investigated with no suspect identified, while 12 of them are still under investigation.

The crimes have been reported in the Lloyds Avenue area of Ipswich, which includes Sailmakers Shopping Centre. Credit: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Two of these reported crimes have been unable to be prosecuted, seven are awaiting a court appearance and one has been resolved locally.

This figure is by far the highest in Ipswich town centre and surrounding areas, with the second being Upper Brook Street and Butter Market on 28 crimes.

This is a running theme for the area, with 34 crimes being reported in February, and 33 in January, with, out of the 67 crimes reported over those two months for the Lloyds Avenue area, 42 of those related to shoplifting.

Shoplifting has been an issue around the town in recent years, with Essential Vintage having to close temporarily due to thefts and crime rising by 8% in the last year with notable rises in shoplifting.

Tom Hunt MP and Superintendent Andrew Martin walked around Ipswich last week. Credit: Tom Hunt MP (Image: Tom Hunt)

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt met with Superintendent Andy Martin of Suffolk police on Friday to discuss issues Ipswich face with shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Supt Martin said: "Tackling crime requires a whole public service response and working alongside partners such as our MP is key to that.

"We will always take robust action against those who impact Ipswich the most, but it is vital we work together to identify and address the root causes that cause criminality in the first place."

Tom Hunt and Andrew Martin visited local businesses. Credit: Tom Hunt MP (Image: Tom Hunt MP)

One place that sees "daily" theft is Poundland in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre.

An Ipswich Poundland spokesman said: "We see theft daily in our store.

"I am not surprised that it has the highest crime rate in the area because it happens every day here.

"That figure is also only the ones that were caught, I am constantly having them and I can't catch them all.

"It's increased within this area since our other branch closed in Ipswich on Carr Street.

"Before, we had a lot of different clientele, a lot of the older people came in off the bus and did their shopping which was lovely.

"Now, people just don't care because they know they can get away with it."

Tom Hunt, Ipswich MP. Credit: House of Commons (Image: House of Commons)

Mr Hunt says he cares about the issue – bringing it up in the House of Commons last week.

In Parliament, he asked the Lord Chancellor whether there should be a zero tolerance approach to shoplifting, and that those who are found guilty, particularly repeat offenders, should be properly punished.

He said: "We stopped at Poundland on our visit to discuss a recent theft only hours earlier and Superintendent Andrew confirmed that there is a fast track way of arresting people, 'Op-Retail', which means a more speedy prosecution pathway and he mentioned that there is no minimum value for theft.

"An important element to stamping out this anti-social behaviour.

"I was also pleased to hear that on-the-spot fines have been replaced by conditional cautions where the criminal will have to pay back the money in its entirety."

The police have recently introduced the presence of three additional support officers in the town to ensure shoppers are safe.