CRIME in Wellington rose by nearly 70 per cent during November compared with the previous month, town councillors heard at their December meeting.

There had been several shoplifting incidents at the Waitrose and Asda stores involving organised gangs of possibly Eastern Europeans, stated PC Rob Wood’s report.

Recorded crimes totalled 30 compared with 18 for October and included 13 domestic incidents (including arguments), six thefts, six cases of harassment and four assaults.

There had been 16 calls to the police relating to anti-social behaviour and two missing people reports. Happily, both missing persons had been found and returned home.

There had been a case of grievous bodily harm in Longforth Road where both offenders had been arrested and bailed pending extensive inquiries.

In High Street a girl had been assaulted by another girl. The attack had been witnessed by the attacker’s children.

The police beat surgery at the town council offices is open every Tuesday between 2pm and 3pm.

Wellington Police Station, at the junction of North Street and Victoria Street, is open to the public between 10am and 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.