POLICE are trying to nip things in the bud to try and stop neighbour disputes in Wellington from potentially getting out of hand very quickly.

Sgt Jon O’Connor, speaking at the full Wellington Town Council meeting on May 6, said that police were again seeing a rise in arguments between neighbours over “comparatively minor issues such as parking and noise complaints.”

“If left unchecked, these matters quickly escalate into threats of violence and sometimes even assaults that require police intervention and a full investigation,” he said in his monthly report.

“We are working hard with housing providers to implement early intervention measures and use tenancy enforcement tools to resolve disputes at the earliest opportunity.”

Sgt O’Connor added: “It is often far more efficient to report housing matters directly to a housing officer who will be best placed to provide a resolution.”

The best course of action to resolve a neighbourly dispute is by the people involved talking to each other informally. But if a neighbour was being violent, threatening or poses a direct threat – people are urged to contact the police immediately.

Sgt O’Connor reported that during April there had been 88 crimes reported to police in Wellington and this amounted to 37 incidents of violence against the person, 20 thefts, 11 public order offences and 11 acts of arson and criminal damage, plus six sexual offences and three burglaries.

“If anyone has any questions or queries they wish to make with the police team, the enquiry office at Wellington Police Station is open from 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,” said Sgt O’Connor.

“We can be contacted via the Avon and Somerset Police website or by calling 101. Alternatively, people are more than welcome to stop us whilst we’re out on patrol – we’ll always be happy to speak with them.”