Dunstable News Desk

The local force are appealing for witnesses following a robbery in Dunstable. On Friday (7 May) at around 9.55pm, a young man was sitting on a bench near the café on Bennetts Close when he was approached by three men. The men assaulted the victim, attempted to take his bicycle, and stole his mobile phone, before fleeing the scene towards Bull Pond Lane. The offenders are described as three young men, but one was of a much larger build than the other two. PC James Holohan, investigating, said: “This incident has left the victim very shaken and we are keen to catch those responsible. “We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any video doorbell footage or CCTV in the area.” Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact us online, or by calling 101, quoting reference number 40/22829/21. HELP IS AT HAND In an emergency ring 999. In a non-emergency ring 101 or alternatively, you can  report a crime or concern online  or anonymously

Bedfordshire Police say that more than a thousand weapons are now safely off the streets after being recovered from outdoor public spaces and from a number of weapons bins throughout the county. This activity was a result of Operation Sceptre – the national week of action aimed at tackling knife crime and encouraging people to think twice before carrying a knife. Police activity included weapons sweeps, school and retailer engagement, and pro-active high visibility patrols in areas most affected by knife crime. The force’s crime reduction team emptied  22 weapons bins  prior to the week of action and found 347 blades and five firearms. The bins were last emptied in November last year following a previous Operation Sceptre week of action. The bins were  emptied  again  on Tuesday  (4 May) and  a further 843 blades and two firearms  were  recovered . Officers from the community teams took part in a number of weapons sweeps across the county, where a total of 13 knifes were found. S

The new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire is Conservative Festus Akinbusoye  The vote took place at Luton's Inspire Centre. In the first round results the votes were as follows: Festus Akinbusoye, Conservative: 51,700 David Michael, Labour: 42,708 Jas Parmar, Liberal Democrat: 15,983 Patrick Hamill, Independent​: 8,279 Antonio Daniel Vitiello, English Democrats: 3,387 Liberal Democrat Jas Parmar, English Democrat Antonio Vitiello and Independent Patrick Hamill were eliminated after the first round of voting. Following the second count, the second preference votes were considered and added to the first round tally. Mr Akinbusoye won 59,793 votes, compared to Labour candidate, Mr Michael, who polled 50,815. PCCs are elected to oversee the work of their local police force. Follow us on Facebook If you have news for Dunstable, please send it in. NOTICE TO OUR EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS — Recently,

This coming Monday 10th May sees the launch of the next phase of works to improve Dunstable’s High Street. Over the last 18 months, Central Bedfordshire Council has been making improvements to Middle Row, Ashton Square, High Street South and Queensway, including improving the drainage to reduce the risk of flooding which the area has been prone to in the past.  The aim has been to create a more pleasant, safe and attractive High Street area, reducing the sense of vehicles dominating the road, giving greater priority to pedestrians and cyclists and improving accessibility between and within different parts of the town centre. Thanks to funding support from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership with an allocation from the Local Growth Fund, the most significant work phase begins on Monday 10 May and continues until the Spring of 2021. High Street North will be remodelled, the traffic light timings will be changed and a four-way crossing will be installed at Church S

Press Release   29 April 2021 embargoed until after the PCC Elections by the News Desk .-   Andrew Selous MP has welcomed the announcement that 74 police officers have been recruited in Bedfordshire in the first year of the Government’s campaign to recruit 20,000 by March 2023.  Bedfordshire bolstered by 74 extra police officers 74 police officers have been recruited by Bedfordshire Police as part of the Government’s campaign to recruit an additional 20,000 by March 2023. 8,771 new officers have joined forces across the country in the past year, which means the target for year one of the national recruitment push – to recruit 6,000 officers by March 2021 – has been dramatically exceeded. When the post appeared on Andrew Selous Facebook Page the reactions weren't good. (see below). The press release said, “The addition of these new officers brings the total number of police across Bedfordshire up to 1,351, meaning there are now more frontline officers on our streets to keep t

Appeal for Whereabouts of the Beecroft Time Capsule Letters to Dunstable News Desk I am really desperately asking if someone can help with an appeal asking all teachers and staff from  Brewers Hill Middle School , that used to be on Aldbanks in Dunstable, for help tracking a time capsule that was meant to have been buried around 1984-89.  I have been eagerly waiting for the date the time capsule was meant to have been opened by children at Beecroft in the next 10ish years but then I discover the school is up for demolition (which actually took place last year). I have been in touch with a fantastic group on Facebook and the person in charge of this group has been so helpful talking to old teachers and although they discovered the possible whereabouts of the time capsule when the workman doing the demolition looked it wasn’t there. I have contacted the council pleading for help to track the time capsule with no luck at all. I have held onto the day of seeing something special, th