RESIDENTS have renewed their call for more to be done to reduce crime near Bushey properties formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence.

A meeting was held by police last Thursday to discuss the issue, relating to unoccupied Ministry of Defence (MOD) houses in Harcourt Road, Turner Road and Sutcliffe Close, and former MOD flats in Girtin Road, Munro Road and Gulland Close.

These properties have been the target, and cause, of significant crime in recent years. The flats are currently owned by Paddington Churches housing association.

Last week's lively meeting, held in Girtin Road, was attended by residents, police, traders and representatives from Hertsmere Borough Council, the MOD and Paddington Churches.

Paddington Churches has proposed a plan to demolish the current flats and build a bigger complex. This plan is to be heard by a planning committee on October 2.

Residents have claimed the emptying of the buildings due to proposed reconstruction has led to a reduction in crime.

Speaking after the meeting, Len Cross, 74, of nearby Cornfield Road, said: "When it was an Army estate we never used to get any problems. Then they sold it to Paddington Churches and we ended up having all the people no one else wanted.

"This is a residential area full of oldish, vulnerable people. The crime rate was non-existent, then suddenly vandalism went up enormously.

"Now they're going to be demolishing them and are moving people out, the vandalism has gone down."

The planning application has attracted two petitions, one for the development with 44 signatures and one against it with 57 signatures.

George Harbin, 74, of Cornfield Road, said: "We tell them about everything at the meetings but come out thinking we've got the same silly answers.

"We've said to them why are you putting all bought houses at the back and all the council housing backing on to all the bought houses on the road?' They don't take a blind bit of notice."

Sergeant Nick Caveney, of the Bushey Neighbourhood Police Team, said this week police were aware of the ongoing problems in Harcourt Road.

He said: "On Tuesday PC Glen Hawkins, the ward officer for the area saw some of his hard work pay off with the arrest of three local youths for public nuisance' in the Harcourt Road area.

"These arrests were made possible by support from the local community in standing up and giving us information about local offenders.

"We hope that this firm approach shows that at a local level we are working to actively improve the quality of life for local residents."

John Hughes, of The Genesis Housing Group, a parent company of Paddington Churches, said: "We have been pleased with the recent reduction of crime in the area and we will continue to work closely with the local agencies and look for ways to reduce this further.

"Our new proposals being presented on October 2 have been developed alongside consultation with local residents and agencies to design out crime and this would be a massive boost for the area."