Freeman Street: A Local U-Turn on Anti-Social Behaviour and Booze Crimes

Data suggests that Freeman Street in Grimsby is no longer plagued by anti-social antics or alcohol-fuelled misdemeanours. The local council is pondering a policy shift, backed by three years of Humberside Police crime logs, which might see Freeman Street’s stringent business licensing relaxed. These measures, known as Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) policies, were introduced to tackle local hotspots of disorderly conduct and drink-related crime. However, it seems Freeman Street and East Marsh, which together account for a mere 4% of all alcohol-related crime reports, may no longer fit the bill. But not everyone’s raising a glass to the news. East Marsh Ward’s councillors are concerned that scrapping the CIA might undermine years of progress in public safety. They argue that the decrease in anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime is a sign the policy works, and are pushing for the council to bolster, rather than weaken protections. Meanwhile, the council argues that there’s not enough data to support the CIA’s continued existence. In a twist of irony, another CIA in Cleethorpes, which has seen a quarter of all alcohol-related crime reports in the last three years, is proposed for expansion. Councillors are calling for more stringent measures alongside the CIA, pointing to a recent seizure of 90,000 illegal cigarettes and vapes as evidence of the ongoing issue. The council has assured the public that their concerns will be considered ahead of any final decisions.