Police who failed tragic mother-of-two Fiona Pilkington yesterday mounted a major operation in the street where she was abused for a decade before taking her own life. Officers swarmed into Bardon Road in Barwell, Leicestershire, two years after Ms Pilkington, 38, and her disabled daughter Francecca, 18, died in a car fire.
Ms Pilkington made at least 33 calls to police over ten years as her home was under siege from youths. Her complaints received minimal attention or were ignored. But yesterday, a police riot van, an orange squad car, a neighbourhood policing vehicle, and two bike-riding police community support officers patrolled the street. A uniformed inspector and a helmeted PC made reassuring visits to neighbours, including the grandmother and uncle of 17-year-old Alex Simmons, identified as the ringleader.
The costly blitz began after Leicestershire Police learned newspapers were to name Steven Simmons, 43, his wife Susanne, 44, and their four sons. A police source said: 'I know how it looks, but we have to maintain order. What's done is done and we can't do anything more for Fiona and Frankie. We have to stop trouble today.'
Residents expressed outrage at the sudden police activity. Councillor and Neighbourhood Watch volunteer Hazel Smith, 47, said: 'My reaction is, "You're far too late. Fiona and Frankie are dead."' She vowed to do her 'absolute damnedest' to have the Simmons family evicted.
Hinckley and Bosworth District Council has pledged to restart eviction proceedings against the Simmons family, which were allowed to lapse in April. Officials admit the family is harassing locals once more but need to begin legal moves from scratch.
