Crime and the Fixed Link?

 

High crime in an area is generally related to:

 

  • Deprivation and homelessness
  • Unemployment
  • Bad moral choices
  • Alcohol and drug abuse / lack of facillities 
  • Depression and mental disorders
  • Frustration of non realised aspirations
  • lack of varied social experiences including limited pool of potential partners
  • Social isolation and lack of aspiration, social and career opportunities

    Click to see the channel 4 News report
    Click Here…. to see the channel 4 News report about how the islands’ isolation is letting our children down…. and more

The Isle of Wight was once regarded as a safe area to live….. and compared to areas of many mainland cities of large population, it certainly still is. Those who have holidayed on the island and subsequently migrated, have generally found the slow, rural lifestyle attractive. Unfortunately, the above list of contributory factors to crime, are very prevelant on the Isle of Wight and are increasing.  It is accepted by the MP, the IOW Council and general public – that the lack of a 24 hour accessible Physical Fixed Link acts as a massive contributory factor to the above points that create excessive crime…. Read More

 

Lack of crime in an area is generally related to:

 

  • It being an affluent area
  • Stable employment
  • Good moral choices
  • Healthy activities/sports facilities
  • Attentive and specialised healthcare
  • The ability to access good advice and education
  • Being content
  • Achieving goals
  • The ability to travel out of local area (broaden and open the mind)

PRO-LINK believes that the Freedom Tunnel will create the foundations to achieve all of the above criteria. Without easy and affordable physical fast links to mainland opportunities, healthcare, education, careers and also the ability to visit friends and family… PRO-LINK believes that many types of crime on the IOW will increase far more. According to this County Press article it already has, which the local taxpayers will need to fund for policing. A quote from the article:

“Demand for police services has increased on the Island, where the number of recorded violent crimes, sexual offences, house burglaries and hate crimes all increased significantly last year.“ (2017)

 

  • Using CCTV to monitor the vehicle type and colour along with the driver and passenger identification.
  • Using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to monitor the exact date and time of the vehicle entering and leaving the island.
  • Keeping the island as a peninsular… any criminal would need to have a reason to be on the island as it would be impossible to just be “passing through”.
  • There will also be a toll to pay which would need to be pre-registered by credit/debit card with the payees details.
This is a clip from edited footage of the Fixed Link Documentary. PRO-LINKs’ Carl Feeney explains how crime can be lessened on the Island…. and traffic also:
screen-shot-youtube-are-there-any-negatives
The three main points that some islanders have been led to fear, are explained …. Click Here.
Below are a few newspaper articles to help understand the situation:

 

"Education, skills and training appear to be a particular concern on the IW, with nearly all of Newport and parts of East Cowes and Ryde falling into the worst 5% of the country...."
“Education, skills and training appear to be a particular concern on the IW, with nearly all of Newport and parts of East Cowes and Ryde falling into the worst 5% of the country….”

 

are iow teenagers different?
“The biggest grumble i have is that i have to catch a ferry to do anything exciting”

 

"15,000 binge drinkers and 700 crack cocaine users on the island..."
“15,000 binge drinkers and 700 crack cocaine users on the island…”

 

"Island youngsters more likely than their mainland counterparts to end up behind bars"
“Island youngsters more likely than their mainland counterparts to end up behind bars”

 

teenagers jailed
“The report also reveals twice the national average number of island teenagers were jailed last year”

 

Violent offences and child abuse rise
“Violent crime, serious sexual offences, child abuse and youth offending have risen dramatically across the island”

 

IOW worst for children injuries
“More children under five are admitted to hospital with injuries on the island, than anywhere else in England”

 

"Almost half of young criminals on the island go on to commit further offences"
“Almost half of young criminals on the island go on to commit further offences”

 

Police. over to you.
“If more police officers numbers are reduced on the island, it will become extremely vulnerable and so will the officers, because they will have no back up or support.”

 

Please go to the POLICE.UK WEBSITE to compare the IOW crime rates with other areas for different types of crime. Here below are a few statistics to explain that certain crimes on the IOW are far higher in incidence than in similar mainland areas. PRO-LINK believes that these figures will decrease once the tunnel gives islanders their Freedom.

The Facebook group discussion on this subject can be seen …..Here

 

possession of weapons
Possession of weapons on IOW is third highest in the Hampshire force area.

 

 

 

Possession of weapons in areas
Possession of offensive weapons is 2nd highest on IOW, if compared to other similar areas.

 

 

 

Violence and sexual offences
Violence and sexual offences on IOW are above average.

 

 

 

Public order offences
Public order offences on the IOW are the highest when compared to similar areas.

 

 

 

drug offences
Drug offences on the IOW are 2nd highest when compared to similar areas.

 

 

 

Overall crime rate
Overall crime rate on IOW is just over the average when compared to similar areas.