Getting followed home and being threatened with a fire extinguisher are just two problems women claimed they experienced in Watford.
The Watford Observer headed into the town centre on Monday, January 30 to find out people’s views on crime in the area.
The responses varied but the general consensus was that crime was getting worse in Watford.
Watford chief inspector Andy Wiseman said efforts have been made to make people feel safer and deter offenders.
Both women interviewed said they do not feel safe going out alone when it is dark.
Watford chief inspector Andy Wiseman said a visible police presence in Watford town centre is a "priority for the force" when concerns were put to him.
Holly Levy, 25, a bartender who lives in Watford, said: “I’ve been followed home before, shouted at and had things thrown at me.”
Ms Levy has considered moving away from the area.
And while Noora Hassett, 72, who also lives in Watford, said she hasn’t experienced any crime recently, she did describe an incident she experienced before Covid.
She said: “I was followed by two young lads under the underpass. They had a fire extinguisher and lifted it up.
“I said, ‘do you want to fight, come on I’ll box you’. I do combat you see. Then they ran away.”
But it is not only women who think their safety is at risk.
Drugs were highlighted as a problem in the area by Boris Dromard, 45.
He added: “I’d like the police to monitor the area, not just the party places where they patrol over the weekend.”
But not everyone had similar views.
Stuart Droznika, 71, from Bushey, said he feels “quite safe”.
But added: “I drive. I think you always feel safer if you have a car.”
Watford chief inspector Andy Wiseman said having a regular visible police presence in Watford town centre is important to reassure residents and deter possible offenders.
Mr Wiseman added: “We do have sufficient resources to patrol Watford’s hotspot areas during busy periods, and to respond to incidents when they are reported to us.”
He outlined the measures Watford has in place to support women and girls including a safe zone area set up inside PRYZM and training for local businesses on how to report suspicious or predatory behaviour.
Mr Wiseman added the police force is aware that residents are concerned about drug activity.
He said: “Our officers continue to do proactive covert and overt patrols in areas that have been highlighted as hotspots.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel