Message From Inspector 1144 Head

Message From Inspector 1144 Head

I will begin this week's update with the tragic incident on 24th September, when police attended an address on Haldane Street, Gainsborough, following reports that a 20-year-old woman had been found deceased inside the property. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.  When officers attend sudden and unexplained deaths, particularly involving a young person, it is not uncommon for an arrest to be made in the early stages of an investigation. This ensures that the scene is preserved and that potentially crucial evidence is not lost. A post-mortem examination has subsequently been conducted; however, the results were inconclusive. The arrested male has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Also on 24th September, officers commenced an investigation into a grievous bodily harm (GBH) offence following reports that a three-month-old child had suffered a bilateral subdural haematoma. Thankfully, the child's condition has improved since the initial report. Four individuals involved in the child's care have been released on police bail while enquiries remain ongoing.

On 25th September, police attended reports of a male assaulting a female on Bob Rainsforth Way, Gainsborough. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained actual bodily harm (ABH) level injuries. Following the investigation, Anton Stepniewski, aged 37, of Sturgate, Springthorpe, was charged with ABH, intentional strangulation, and making threats to kill. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before the court on 27th October 2026.

On 27th September, officers attended an arson incident in North Willingham in which offenders entered land known locally as "Bonnie's Paddock" and set fire to a number of caravans and vehicles before leaving the scene. Due to the scale of the fire, multiple fire appliances attended the incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible.

On 30th September, officers received reports that the pumping station on Hackthorn Road, Welton, had been broken into, with more than 100 litres of diesel stolen. This is the second incident involving an Anglian Water pumping station within West Lindsey, the previous offence having occurred on Summergangs Lane.

Given the increasing value of diesel fuel, it is likely that sites storing fuel will continue to be targeted. Businesses and landowners are therefore encouraged to review and strengthen their security measures wherever possible, and members of the public are asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Also on 30th September, officers received reports of a burglary on Middle Street, Burton, during which four vehicles and a trailer were stolen. Thanks to security measures installed by the owner and the swift response of officers, all stolen vehicles and the trailer were recovered from various locations in and around Gainsborough. Enquiries remain ongoing; however, this incident highlights the value of vehicle security and tracking measures in assisting police investigations and recovery efforts.

I am also pleased to provide some early details of an exciting project being developed alongside the Aspiration Team. We are currently working to secure funding for a programme aimed at supporting a cohort of young women. Participants would have the opportunity to work with horses, gain a recognised qualification, and be paired with a mentor from the police service or a partner agency. I hope to be able to provide further details as the project progresses.

In my previous update, I mentioned that I would like to introduce an "Around the Courts" section. I am still working through the practical arrangements required to make this possible, particularly around obtaining the relevant information from the courts that can be shared with the community.

Finally, the team's quarterly priority-setting meeting took place on 28th September. Priorities were selected based on responses to Lincs Alert surveys, feedback from Parish and District Councillors, and current operational demand. Individual officers will take responsibility for overseeing progress against each priority, while continuing to work collaboratively as a team to deliver positive outcomes.

Beat Codes NC01 (Scotter Ward), NC02 (Gainsborough Town North), NC03 (Gainsborough Town South), NC04 (Gainsborough Uphills) and NC05 (Saxilby Ward)

Beat Codes NC06 (Welton), NC07 (Nettleham), NC08 (Market Rasen) and NC09 (Caistor)

As always, I welcome constructive feedback from residents. If there are any additional topics, information, or updates that you would like to see included in future communications, please continue to let us know. Your feedback helps ensure that these updates remain informative, relevant, and valuable to the communities we serve.