Neighbours have shared why they love living in their Nottinghamshire area, with the lowest number of crimes reported in Nottinghamshire. Recent Police UK crime statistics show there were 173 reports of crime between March 2022 and March 2023 in the geographic boundary, as grouped by the data, that encompasses Tollerton, Willoughby and Keyworth North, in Rushcliffe.
This equates to 29 reports of crime for every 1,000 people in the area. This is the lowest rate for neighbourhoods across the county as well as one of the lowest in England and Wales out of thousands of neighbourhoods.
Many residents who we spoke to in Tollerton explained that the village had a prominent neighbourhood watch scheme and strong sense of community, which they felt could be playing a part in why the area remains a safe place to live and work. Retired Mike Owen, 62, has lived in the village for around 20 years.
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When asked is he's surprised the village is the safest in the county, he replied: "Well I don't think about it but I do know it's a safe area when you are walking around and we don't have too much anti-social behaviour. The community is pretty good and if we are walking around, people would notice if something was happening.
"In the village newsletter people say they report things and if anyone is suspicious there's a good community watch that keeps an eye on things." He went on to explain that there are some rare cases of anti-social behaviour in the village, but nothing too serious.
Mike said: "It happens in the summer I think as there's the open space and play area for the young children but sometimes the youths go down there." Speaking of the village, he added: "It's no different to anywhere else really but we have quite a nice community hub with a nice pub in the village and schools and everything. People know each other from the school or families and dog walkers know each other."
Retired Rosemary Morris, who is in her 80s, was not surprised that the area was one of the safest in the country. She said: "I feel absolutely safe.
"It's fabulous, I've been here 53 years and it frightens me to think I may have to move. The door is always open, the back gate is always open."
She explained that there was a community watch, which is "well established" and has been "going on for years." Rosemary added that the pub in the village is now a community owned business, and with it's new role as a community pub it has "made such a difference" in the area and is very popular.
Her neighbour Sandra Aram, 54, explained that there is a range of ages across the village. She said: "Where I am there are lots of kids and we speak to the neighbours but don't see people often because they work."
When asked her favourite thing about the village, Sandra replied: "It's quiet. I like the fact that I can sit in the garden and there's nothing blaring."
Rosemary added: "It is quiet but then again as I live alone I can choose, as there are so many people I can go see for a coffee. The quietness is not loneliness."
Speaking on if he feels the area is safe, Ray Jephson, 71, said: "I think it is yeah, it's really nice. We've been here about six years but we have found it to be extremely safe.
"I think perhaps the younger generation will usually do anti-social behaviour in other places, but I think perhaps the younger generation here have more things to do to occupy themselves. They get jobs at the local pub and then they go to university.
"In a lot of places a lot of it is boredom. Boxing gyms and sports clubs are doing the best to offer something as it is generally the youngsters, there's a scout group here, a guides and brownies and a lot of groups."
Ray continued: "In a way Tollerton was becoming an older village from an age point of view which I suppose reduces the number of youngsters that could cause trouble, but that is changing are younger parents are bringing more families in which is good. There is a neighbourhood watch and they have somebody on each road as a dedicated neighbourhood watch person."
He added that the pub has become a community hub and so "been ever better lately" and that because of that "more people know each other." Ray added: "I know everyone on this road, it's a very quiet road."
Speaking about the village, Ray explained: "It has a very good school and gets interest from people that live in different villages." When asked if the village experienced anti-social behaviour, he replied: "We've not heard anything for a long while."
His wife, Christine Jephson, 70, added: "The newsletter tells you if there has been any anti-social behaviour in the village and if there has been any break ins and things like that. There's a lot of neighbours that feel safe and have lives here much longer than us and always feel safe."
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