Former ITV presenter attacked by 'shoplifter' after taking photo of incident
A former local news television presenter has been left bruised after being attacked when he snapped an alleged shoplifter.
Mark Tyler witnessed an alleged theft from Typo on May 3 and took a photograph of the perpetrators, but it led to verbal and physical abuse further along the High Street in Exeter.
Although he didn’t need hospital treatment, Mark was left bruised and shaken by the incident.
At a hearing a couple of weeks ago, the defendant pleaded guilty to assault at Exeter Magistrates Court and sentencing will take place on June 29.
Mark, a former news and sport presenter for ITV Westcountry is calling for more concerted action to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
He told DevonLive: “I felt it was my public duty to report the shoplifting, and I’m pleased that it has resulted in court action together with a conviction for the assault on me. The police were on the scene within minutes, and, as usual, were fantastic.
“The police do need the public’s help in reporting crime, suspicious activity and general anti-social behaviour. However, a lot of people I speak to think it is a waste of time doing so because they believe nothing gets done due to a lack of resources.
“An increased visible policing presence in Exeter city centre would help enormously, particularly with what seems like a growing problem of anti-social behaviour linked to drink and drug abuse.
"I saw another incident recently in the High Street which resulted in three police cars and numerous officers detaining an individual who appeared high on drugs. Nearby was a group of students, with one commenting, 'something like this seems to happen every time I’m in Exeter'.
“I recently spoke to council leader Phil Bialyk about the growing problem. He assured me that all that can be done is being done, and that the council is lobbying Alison Hernandez (police and crime commissioner) for more help.
"Although the PCC isn’t in charge of operational policing, she can allocate more budget to enhance community schemes locally - in partnership with the city council and other organisations. Much great work is already going on in the city, but there clearly needs to be more.
“Having lived in the Exeter area all my life, I have serious concerns about what seems like the slow death of the city centre. It’s become less and less attractive to visit.
"There are many reasons for this, including car park charges, the loss of big name stores, and empty premises wherever you look. However, the biggest negative has to be the anti-social behaviour that is increasingly affecting what should be a pleasant visit to the centre of what has been in the past a vibrant and more welcoming city centre.
“We have a proud history, but I seriously worry that we are on a downward spiral that will need a serious rethink to turn around."
Assurances have been given by Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
She said: “My thoughts are with Mr Tyler, I commend him for carrying out his civic duty in attempting to gather evidence of a crime in progress and am pleased his assailants have been dealt with by the police and courts.
“While Exeter is a relatively safe city I share the concerns about the levels of antisocial behaviour there, as do city centre shopkeepers who are extremely frustrated and angered by incidents of this type. I am on record as having done everything within my power to increase funding to Devon and Cornwall Police.
"As a result of extra investment since I was elected to the post the force has an additional £106m a year and a budget for 686 more officers - more than any time in its history. It has taken time to train these officers for independent patrol and it is only now that we are really seeing the benefits of that uplift.
“In chief constable Will Kerr I have recruited a leader who has already demonstrated a commitment to visible and robust policing in our communities through initiatives like Operation Loki, which is designed to bear down on antisocial behaviour in locations including Exeter. I have also worked with Exeter City Council to secure additional Home Office funding for Safer Streets initiatives.
“Antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and violence have no place in our society. The Devon and Cornwall force area has historically been one of the lowest recorded crime rates and I remain committed to keeping it that way.”
Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk explained how the council is helping to tackle problems in the city centre.
He said: “I’m very sorry to read about Mark’s experience in the city centre and I am very glad that the perpetrator of this assault has now pleaded guilty and will be dealt with through the courts.
“Mark raises a number of issues around anti-social behaviour, and this is an issue which we take very seriously. Drug dealing is a criminal offence and should be reported to the police when witnessed. We support the police with cutting edge CCTV cameras which cover the vast majority of the city centre, including brand new, 360 degree cameras in Cathedral Green.
“When any illegal activity is witnessed we immediately inform the police from our CCTV control centre and request a response. The police prioritise all requests and respond accordingly. We also store the video for review and possible action later.
“In conjunction with the police, we use the full range of powers at our disposal to try and prevent anti-social behaviour. In a recent crackdown over a four week period, the police, supported by our teams, issued 36 Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) dispersals and made 59 arrests. With support from our partners we work tirelessly towards a safer Exeter - but it remains a challenge.
“Finally, I have to disagree that we are facing the slow death of the city centre. Despite all the challenges that retailers face, Exeter remains one of the most attractive city centres to visit anywhere in the UK, and we are currently enjoying very good footfall. Rest assured, we will continue to work as hard as we possibly can, in collaboration with our partners, to ensure it remains that way.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
