By reputation they are sleepy market towns, but Beccles and Bungay have seen some gritty crimes of late. BRUNO BROWN met the beat bobby to find out more - and got some surprising feedback from her
In the last three months, the neighbouring towns of Beccles and Bungay and surrounding villages have seen a man in a balaclava attacking school children, a string of arsons and a suspected racially-motivated attack on a local family.
It is hardly Gotham City, but the level of crime belies the sometimes sleepy reputation of the area.
And trying to keep a lid on it all - Beccles and Bungay's Batman, if you like - is local beat bobby PC Amy Yeldham.
But to do so, she says she needs "more cooperation" from the public.
"Getting people to report things is one of the biggest issues which we are encountering, which might be surprising to many," she said.
"People do not report things as they happen and it puts us at a disadvantage from the get-go. We would benefit from more cooperation.
"There are so many ways for people to report things to us. I just do not understand why so many things are failed to be reported. We are here to help and serve the community."
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One problem is that people are often likely to post information about crimes online, before contacting the police.
"Too often things are being shared on social media before even being reported to the police. This needs to be reversed and the authorities need to be trusted," she said.
"We are here to help. We want to be visible and approachable in our communities and there are loads of ways to get in contact."
In terms of the types of offences seen in the area, she said the cost of living crisis had led to a rise in thefts.
In particular, organised crime groups have begun to target cooking oil.
"During the cost of living crisis, we have seen lots of cooking oil thefts, organised crime groups targeting shops and takeaways.
"This is a new trend in rural crime.
"If you think something is happening, suspicious, someone is doing something, then please report it.
"There are constant issues we are dealing with and the sooner we know the better."
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She also highlighted the activities of scammers, many of them targeting the local elderly.
"Scams are a massive issue, not just locally but nationwide, at the moment.
"It is so awful. In our community in particular there are quite a lot of elderly people who are susceptible to online scammers.
"This issue intensified during the pandemic especially.
"I urge people to seek advice from friends or relatives before ever considering, let alone passing personal information or card details.
"At the force, we have online safety tools and advice for people to use if they are unsure.
"People really do need to be careful with who they are exchanging details with."
PC Yeldham has served Suffolk Constabulary for more than 20 years.
She said she was delighted to be serving the community she now lives in, and does so with "immense pride".
"I have been working for the police for 20 years, I am very passionate about it and I want to continue until I retire.
"It fills me with immense pride knowing I am serving a community and find it very rewarding."
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It is a common grumble from many in Bungay that Beccles seems to have more of a police presence, but the suggestion was dismissed by PC Yeldham.
"I would like to say that Beccles and Bungay get equal police attention," she said.
"But police presence does get increased in areas which are regularly reported, where crime is prevalent, so our presence can be seen to reassure the public."
Such a lesson is as true in Batman's Gotham City as it is in Beccles and Bungay.
To get in touch with PC Yedham email her at: CEOlowestoft@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
And for information and advice on cybercrime see website: www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/cybercrime
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