Rayleigh finished 2009 on a grim note, with an armed robbery at the Grange Sub Post Office in Rayleigh. The Echo reported on it here:
A MAN has been arrested after a post office was held up at gunpoint.
The branch in London Road, Rayleigh, was held up at about 6pm on Tuesday and the staff were threatened with a gun.
A 42-year-old man from Canvey was arrested a short time later in Station Approach in Hockley. He is currently in custody.
Our colleague, Grange Ward councillor Chris Lumley has the following point to make about CCTV :
“The robbery at the Grange Sub Post Office in London Road highlights the problem of the District Council policy of 4/5 years ago when it removed the CCTV cameras from its shopping parades. They said this was because police thinking was that good street lighting was more of a deterrent than CCTV. I opposed the removal of the CCTV but lobbied the County Council Highways for an additional lamp post. My request was granted in February 2007 and the lampost was installed, ironically, close to the post office.
The recent events have put the Council’s policy in doubt. The additional lighting did not stop the crime and we shall never know if CCTV would have been a deterrent.
However Rayleigh Town Council have pursued a policy of installing CCTV in the town centre and Websters Way Car Park. The Town Council has limited funds at its disposal but as I am a town councillor as well as on the district I will be asking if we could frame a long term policy to provide CCTV at all the sub post offices in Rayleigh as they and their staff and members of the public can be vulnerable.”
Just an update.
There was another minor incident over Christmas at Hambro parade where vandals attempted to break the pharmacy shop window and succeeded in smashing the nail boutique window.
Nestled between the two shops is the Hambro stores post office.
Prior to the Town Council’s current policy,CCTV was requested several years ago for similar problems but was not approved because it would have set a precedent for other parades to follow?
And
Martin, I think you have broadly got it right.
However I think there may be a change of attitide now, we need to see what’s possible in all our shopping parades.