Developers should take responsibility
I am a resident at Freemans Meadow in Leicester.
It has come to my attention that, in the four months I have lived here, my relatively small friendship group that also live here have been the victims of crime three times.
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A group of friends had their house broken into, with two passports and a laptop being stolen, then a friend had a bike stolen and, in the latest development another had four of her car windows smashed and her sat nav taken (five cars in total had windows smashed in the same night).
It is obvious there is a recognised crime problem here.
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I say this because the police have taken notice and there are officers doing daily patrols of the area – no doubt a drain on resources and public funds.
I understand they are limited in what they can do if suspects are either long gone or are later found to have alibis.
My issue is with the developer, Barratt Homes, who do not appear to be playing any part in tackling the problem and have not even acknowledged there is one.
They are happy to send me regular generic mail regarding noise levels in the area, neighbourhood kids running around and people parking in the wrong place.
They, however, have not sent a single piece of correspondence which acknowledges this is a crime hotspot and that they are working to help the tenants.
They charge a large amount of money each month (my flat is rented, but people who own a place here tell me it is about £150 a month in "management" fees, this is on top of £150 a month council tax that we all pay) but have not employed a security guard, secured the gate to the complex or installed CCTV cameras.
I think that the fees everyone here pay should go towards safeguarding the area and not just lining the pockets of the owners, so that they can make a profit and build more houses.
I do not think that the blame lies with the police, who appear to be doing what they can in a time when they are stretched.
I believe the only way Barratt will recognise the problem is if it becomes publicised and people become aware of it.
This way people will think twice about living here which will in turn force the developer to take action. I certainly will not be staying here again after my contract has ended.
Ahmed Saleh, Freemans Meadow.
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