Quiet week at Sidley

SIDLEY has waited with baited breath for days for something to happen.

But even though the high-profile police patrols initiated in the wake of the arson attacks on the Londis store and the serious sword wound suffered by an 18 year-old youth have been scaled down, Ninfield Road has remained calm.

Traders spoke last week of the need for a replacement for the district's Community Beat Officer.

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Inspector Max Mosley says this is not possible but is hoping to recruit two extra Police Community Service Officers who could be drafted into trouble-spots in time of need.

Officially, the two-man police patrols instituted as the Operation Kennel investigation got under way were stood down on Monday - 10 days after the series of incidents.

But single officers have been out and about in Sidley since.

The trading community would like the period of peace to continue; to put the bad publicity behind it and to raise Sidley's profile as a shopping area with a lot to offer.

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A trader whose business has been the subject of both burglary and window-smashing said: "It's been very quiet; very subdued. But is it the calm before the storm?

"Frankly, it's been brilliant. Crime is down. Burglary is down.

"Why can't it be like this all the time?

"I have heard all these police promises before but the past few days have shown that if you stick police on the beat crime goes down.

"The only trouble is we all know that they won't be here much longer and we know what will happen then. It's not just the traders who are saying that but the residents.

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"It's having an adverse effect. People are too frightened to go out, especially in the evenings.

"Trade is very quiet then. People are expecting the worst. People are expecting 'something' to happen."

A trade colleague told the Observer on Tuesday: "Sidley is an old-fashioned high street. There is only one multiple. The rest of us are independent traders providing a quality service to the community.

"But it takes only one incident like this to put the public off shopping in the area.

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"I think a good, positive, up-beat story on Sidley would be well worth-while."

It is not only the Londis store that has been the subject of arson attacks and had its front window smashed.

Another store has been the subject of four window-smashings in close succession.

Yet other traders say they have not been troubled.

One man who has traded without trouble in Sidley since taking over his business a year ago said: "I know the police don't respond when you ring them but if you had one on patrol up here regularly they would only be five minutes away from any trouble.

"Having them here is far better than any 999 calls

"The past week has shown that it works.

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"You walk down the street in the evening about there are no kids hanging about. Where they are I don't know."

For a couple whose home overlooks Ninfield Road the past few days of peace have been bliss - relatively speaking.

The wife said of their experience in the past year: "We have been robbed twice. They stole all my jewellery last time, everything I wasn't actually wearing."

But even the presence of the recent double-manned patrols hasn't entirely quietened Sidley.

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The husband said: "On Friday there were about 12 kids fighting outside our place.

"It started off with fists and went on from there.

"They were all drunk and were drinking from cans of beer.

"Suddenly the police swooped and pinned the ringleader to the ground.

"It was good to see them up here..."

*The injured man was discharged from hospital last week.