Police cover criticised as prowler strikes in Borders (again)

Community councillor Betty Hodges spoke out at this month’s meeting of Kelso Community Council after it emerged that a prowler, who has been terrorising local residents in the middle of the night, remained on the loose - despite a senior councillor claiming that most members knew who it was.

PC Suzanne Howgego, a Community Beat Officer for Kelso, revealed that the town has been left with no police cover on occasions following the restructuring of the force and officers can now be called away to deal with incidents as far apart as Lauder and Eyemouth.

She confirmed the police were investigating two new reports of prowler activity in Kelso and urged residents in the area to lock their doors and windows.

PC Howgego, who pointed out police have stepped up patrols in the area, said: “We are still looking for our prowler. There has been a couple of new incidents that we think are linked.” And she added: “We urge residents to ensure that doors and windows are locked and secured and their property is securely stored.” Councillor Tom Weatherston, who represents Kelso and District on Scottish Borders Council, revealed he received reports of “someone trying doors” in the town every week.

And he urged the police to do more.

Councillor Weatherson said: “If people are roaming round housing estates late at night or early in the morning the police should be stopping them and asking them what they are doing.

“Everybody seems to know who it is, it doesn’t seem to be a secret who it is.” And he added: “The public can’t understand why these people aren’t being arrested.” But PC Howgego insisted the police were doing all that they can with the resources they have and urged anyone with information to come forward.

“We need proper evidence, we can’t just lock anybody up or the case would be thrown out of court,” she explained. “It’s frustrating for everybody.

“The police, particularly in the evenings, are out patrolling as much as they can.” But she added: “Sometimes there is no police in Kelso because they have been called away to Jedburgh or Duns.” The meeting heard only two police officers were on duty in Kelso last Tuesday evening - and half of them were at the community council’s monthly meeting in the Town Hall.

But, following front counter closures at stations in Melrose, Selkirk, Lauder and Coldstream, members heard they could be called away at any time.

Community councillor Betty Hodges told the meeting: “It seems totally inadequate.” Among the items of note reported in this month’s police report, a purse was stolen during a slip-in theft at a property in Inchmead Crescent, money was stolen from an address in Orchard Park, propery was taken after a property was entered at The Linn, there was an attempted house breaking in Spylaw Road, and property was also removed from vehicles at Wallaceneuk and Mayfield Garden Centre.

Police revealed they are working with the local Rotary Club to introduce a Nominated Neighbour Scheme in Kelso to make the community safer.

PC Howgego said: “The scheme will help prevent vulnerable people falling victim to bogus callers. It also encourages legitimate callers to maintain best practice.”