FOR the second month in a row, crime in Wellington is up. It rose by seven in December to 37 compared with November and has doubled in the past two months. The October total was 18.

These figures were given at the January meeting of Wellington Town Council in a written report by PC Rod Wood which showed that criminal damage offences had jumped from zero to nine, that public order offences had gone up from zero to six and that other crimes had increased by five to six.

On the plus side thefts had dropped by four to two, domestic incidents (including arguments) had decreased by four to nine, harassment offences had gone down by four to two, and assaults had fallen by one to three.

There had been 19 calls to the police relating to anti-social behaviour which was three more than in November.

Special incidents of note during the month included a motor-cycle dealer’s premises at Westpark, Chelston being rammed by a van - no entry was gained; a car being seized in Howard Road for no tax/licence for the fourth time with this offender; a car being set on fire next to a house in Russet Close; and a van making off from a police car in Cades Farm and being abandoned, possibly linked to the raid on the motor-cycle dealer’s premises the previous evening on 20th December.

The police beat surgery is held in the town council offices every Tuesday between 2pm and 3pm. The police station at the corner of North Street and Victoria Street is open to the publicfrom 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.