WARMER weather has seen petty arguments among neighbours in Wellington escalate into more serious issues, according to police.

Sgt Jon O’Connor was at Wellington Town Council’s monthly meeting on August 4 where he reported that the hot temperatures mixed with local disputes had led to a number of altercations.

“Neighbourhood disputes and petty arguments have escalated into something where we have had to come in and deal with,” he told councillors. “Discussions about who puts the bins out and when shouldn’t end up in a punch-up.”

Sgt O’Connor, in his report, said: “We saw a rise in low-level arguments between neighbours over noise and nuisance behaviour where people were enjoying time in their gardens to the annoyance of others.

“Some of the arguments did result in heated exchanges over the fence or, later, on social media which were then reported to us.

“We are working with our partners in the respective housing providers to ensure these issues are quashed at the earliest opportunity to avoid further rises in tensions over the remainder of the summer.”

Sgt O’Connor, meanwhile, has been giving monthly reports of local policing activity to town councillors for the past couple of years, but he enjoyed a “first” at his latest meeting; when he received a round of applause from members of the public.

More than 50 people were in attendance at the town council meeting on Monday, August 4, and Sgt O’Connor said he was not used to speaking to such a large number of local residents.

But following his presentation to councillors about the last month’s policing in the town, he was given a round of applause by the audience as he went to leave the meeting.

The sergeant said: “That’s the first time ever that’s happened – I will take that!”