Crime in Thornhill is reducing, says police chief

Petty crime and youth violence have often plagued those living in Thornhill.

But crime is gradually reducing in the area – and it is all thanks to a collaborative approach, according to Chief Inspector Chris Douglas, the deputy commander for Southampton.

Statistics from data.police.uk revealed that in February of 2023 alone, nine incidents of violence and sexual offences were reported in Warburton Road.

Only one incident of a similar nature at the same location was reported in February this year.

Chief Inspector Chris Douglas (Image: Hampshire Constabulary) For inspector Douglas, this is down to the force’s collaborative approach to reducing crime in the area.

“Southampton is quite a dynamic place and there are a lot of socio-economic pressures in certain areas, and it does have an impact on vulnerabilities”, he said.

Filling the streets with police officers does not solve the problem, said Chris, rather it attracts crime back into the area once it is clear of police.

He said: “Thornhill is a lot better than it was a few years ago and we see crime reducing now in that area.

“We have a lot of outreaches with young people, and us joining up with the local authority is stronger than it’s ever been.

“But we can still move forward, and we still have more work to do.”

Inspector Douglas said the key to tackling persistent crime is to look at the root cause.

The answer is not found in “criminalising children”.

“We need to understand the root causes of why people are turning to crime, and we don’t want to rely on the policing element”, he said.

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Working closely with charities including Saints Foundation gives local bobbies and police officers a chance to engage with residents, in particular young people.

Inspector Douglas said: “It’s recognising that for some youths there are limited opportunities, which is drawing them into crime younger and younger, and our focus is not so much about criminalising children but supporting and diverting them.

“We want to give them that chance and to not walk that path of crime.”

He added: “A lot of outreach went into working with young people in Thornhill.

“Several organisations do amazing work, and they can create better relationships than we can, but we are breaking down barriers.

“We do not want to flood the area with cops and nick everybody.”