A NEW police website suggests EVERY street in Bridgwater has been hit by crime.

The site, www.police.uk, shows how many crimes have been committed in every street with more than 12 houses.

The Mercury visited the site and found there were a staggering 15 reported crimes in Church Street alone, including seven for anti-social behaviour.

And other streets with high rates of recorded crime include Union Street and Cannon Close, both with 13 incidents reported, 12 in Leeward Close, and ten each in Taunton Road and Market Street.

Ten of these offences reported in December were ‘violent crimes’.

Neighbours have told The Mercury they have been disturbed by the findings, but police said crime was actually down in recent years.

Sergeant Paul Endicott of Bridgwater Police said: “I think people have a right to know about crime in their area. But the figures need to be viewed in context.

“Violent crime could be domestic - and a push could count as assault. Anti-social behaviour could be complaints about children playing football.”

Trevor Champion, of Union Street, said he had found needles in his area.

He said: “I think it’s a good idea because people need to realise what’s going on in their area.

“The findings do concern me because I have great grandchildren growing up and you don’t want such crimes going on.”

But mother of three Christine Blackmore, of Leeward Road, said: “It’s very quiet here. I’ve heard there’s been a few break-ins, especially sheds.

“But I think I would prefer not to know because it will only worry me.”

1. CANNON Close – 13 crimes; four anti-social behaviours, one violent crime, eight other crimes.

2. CHURCH Street – 15 crimes; seven anti-social behaviours, two violent crimes, four other crimes, two vehicle crimes.

3. LEEWARD Close – 12 crimes; seven anti-social behaviours, five other crimes.

4. TAUNTON Road – Ten crimes; three anti-social behaviours, seven other crimes.

5. MARKET Street - Ten crimes; four anti-social behaviour, five violent crimes, one other crime.

6. UNION Street – 13 crimes; four burglaries, three vehicle crimes, two violent crimes, four other crimes.

WE have set up a phone/text poll to find out what you make of the new police crime mapping website. Here’s how to take part. BY PHONE: Call 09012-210057 if you think the new website is a good thing, or 09012-210058 if you don’t. BY TEXT: Send your text to 80360 with the message MAP, then a space followed by 0057 if you think the site is a good thing, and 0058 if you don’t. Calls cost no more than 26p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Lines close at midnight on Monday. See next week’s Mercury for the result. For full terms visit www.newsquest.co.uk/terms