THE chairman of a parish council has played down the need for more community groups to be set up amid fears that crime is on the increase.

A tree surgeon is the latest victim of a burglary after he had tools worth £7.5k stolen from his van in Chestnut Avenue, Gosfield.

The burglary has led some to suggest the community must play a wider role in crime prevention.

However, Bob Waters, chairman of Gosfield Parish Council insists that the police should be the ones to combat crime and has urged residents not to worry about their safety.

He said: “Police have to take the majority of the weight.

“There is a neighbourhood watch group in Gosfield but it maybe a in need of a bit of a revamp.

“That will certainly be discussed at the next parish council meeting.

“Community groups can be useful for getting information but they aren’t really meant to tackle crime.

“People are always saying they have seen someone suspicious so it can be helpful for things like that.

“On the whole it (Gosfield) is still a very safe village. It’s important to keep a level head. Fear of crime can be a dangerous thing.”