VIGILANTE groups could be gearing up for action as concerns mount about muggings in Morecambe’s West End.

The warning comes from former professional boxer Frankie Taylor as the local community prepares for a ‘crisis meeting’ with the resort’s MP and police.

Mr Taylor, who is calling for a stronger police presence in the area, says: “There is a real possibility that able-bodied locals are going to take the law into their own hands with vigilante groups taking action.” But Morecambe’s Insp Richard Debicki has urged against such lawlessness.

“Offences of street robbery are very rare in the Morecambe area,” he assured the Citizen.

“There have been six recorded in the last four months in the West End area. We are working extremely hard in the West End to reduce crime, and we are specifically targeting key criminals.” But he stresses: “We need people to feed valuable information to us about crimes and suspicious individuals. But they must leave these matters for the police to deal with.” Friends of Alec Wearing, a recent mugging victim, have organised the 6.15pm meeting next Wednesday at The Imperial Pub, Regent Road.

Mr Taylor says Mr Wearing, a local builder, sustained injuries including a fractured skull and broken arm after being beaten in the early hours last month.

“You don’t see injuries that horrific in the ring where the fighters are earning a fortune. He is lucky to be alive,” he says. “Nobody deserves to be in this sort of danger just because they venture out for a few drinks.” He says he sees the meeting as ‘a positive step in the right direction’.

Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has also condemned talk of people taking the law into their own hands.

“I would be totally opposed to that. I am concerned people’s lives are being made a misery by anti-social behaviour but what residents need is reassurance from police that their concerns are taken seriously and increased police profile,” she says.