‘Baltic Mafia’ claim fury
Wisbech general view Visitor Guide
CIVIC leaders and police have hit out at claims that Wisbech is being run by a “Baltic Mafia”.
The town has found itself on the receiving end of yet more bad press, with an article in Saturday’s Daily Mail painting a picture of Wisbech which MP Steve Barclay branded as “disappointing”.
The article comes in the wake of investigations into the murder of 17-year-old Latvian Alisa Dmitrijeva who lived in Wisbech for a short time.
The article alleged Alisa, whose body was found on remote farmland on the Queen’s Sandringham estate on New Year’s Day, was involved in drugs after moving to the UK.
There is speculation she got caught up with Baltic drug and crime gangs and may have died from an overdose.
But police have said this week they do not want these allegations to cloud people’s judgement and stop them from coming forward.
DCI Jes Fry, who is in charge of the investigation, said initial tests on Alisa’s body did not detect drugs but more testing will be carried out.
The murder hunt is one of many recent events that have thrown the national spotlight on the ever-increasing Eastern European community in the town.
The article alleged Baltic gangs are taking over towns such as Wisbech, terrifying local residents and ensnaring girls such as Alisa.
However, Fenland Area Inspector Robin Sissons has dismissed claims that residents are living in fear. When he brought up the subject of the migrant community at a recent community forum, he said not one person said they felt more unsafe now than they did before.
Insp Sissons, who has been a Fenland police officer for several years, including the town’s inspector from 2008-9, said: “I’ve just returned and it’s the same old characters in Wisbech. There is still community spirit here and lots of people who want to make it a better place. Yes, there are places that aren’t as great, but they are everywhere. Wisbech is not as bad as some of the places I have policed.”
Police have released figures from a week’s crackdown on crime, which saw 25 people arrested for mostly violent crimes. Of those, just four were Eastern Europeans for offences of threats to kill, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm (for full story, see page 5).
Mayor Jonathan Farmer said the numbers of Eastern Europeans in Wisbech had been exaggerated in the article – only a fifth of the population is Eastern European according to the electoral register.
He said: “This article seems to have been prompted by one or two people with a racial axe to grind, taking a pop at the Eastern Europeans and being disloyal to their town.”
MP Steve Barclay said he was “disappointed” when he saw the article and has just released a new “positive action” plan with his hopes for Wisbech and what can be accomplished.
• Tell us what you think. Are you living in fear? Or has it all been blown out of proportion? Email your comments to news@fenlandcitizen.co.uk
• For the latest on the hunt for Alisa’s killer, see page 11.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wisbech
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Isabella4
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 02:23 PMWhen our own elected Mayor calls us disloyal to our town and accuses us of having rasist rants just because we tell it like it is about our town. What can we do, God help us because no one else seems to have a mind to. This reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burnedl.
Let Down Local
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:10 PMI am a 29year old mother of two, third generation Wisbech local and to answer your question YES i am frightened by all the EU people now living in my town. I read with interest Mr Sissons quote that he is not aware of any frightened Wisbech people, can i ask where does Mr Sissons live and does he go out on a Friday night into Wisbech for a meal and drink in the local pub, we used to but no longer! Again our Mayor gives us stats saying about registered elecrate how stupid is he? Do you think that all EU people register? I dont think the illegal EU members will be registering do you! I have been listeneing to and reading various comments made by people all around Britain and they all seem to follow the same theme that they are rude, arrogant, always spitting and swear more than Gordon Ramsey and seen hell bent on causing as much trouble as possible. It seems to me that the main reason for all these EU's being here is MONEY. how much they can earn and how much they can rob the state by claiming benefits. We are lead to believe that they are better workers than the Brits, so be it, so once they have finished their shift say 8hrs we then have to endure their being here for the balance of the day. THERE'S THE PROBLEM. On a personal note i am extremely frightened about my childrens education and future due to the large numbers of EU children now attending our over run schools and taking so much out of any given day!!! Something needs to be done.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.