Police are asking residents to help find a missing woman from Lincoln after being dropped off in Newark.

39-year-old Emily Holloway left an address in Yarborough Road, Lincoln, at just after midnight on December 2.

She took a taxi from Lincoln at about 12.30am, and was dropped off in Newark.

She is described as 5ft 9” tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and blue eyes. She was wearing dark jeans, a maroon jumper and a red mac coat.

Her family and officers are concerned for her welfare so would like to know if she is safe and well.

Anyone with any information on Emily, or has seen someone matching her description, should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 376 of December 2.

Police are appealing for information after an unusual bike was stolen from Brayford Wharf North in Lincoln on November 24.

The special bike was stolen from Brayford Wharf North between 3pm and 3.40pm on Monday, November 24.

It is a Harlem Express men’s mountain bicycle which has 18 gears and a number of unusual features on it, including wheels which have six black spokes on them and stickers of stars and stripes.

Lincolnshire Police are asking anyone with any information relating to the bike or the theft to call them on 101 quoting reference 32140058342.

Police are continuing their appeal to trace 39-year-old Emily Holloway, who has been missing from Lincoln since Tuesday, December 2.

As previously reported, Emily left an address in Yarborough Road, Lincoln, on December 2 and was picked up by a taxi at around 12.30am.

She was alone when she was dropped off by the taxi driver in the area of Newark Castle train station, near Waitrose, before 1am.

Emily was reported missing by a family member just after 7.35pm on December 2.

Lincolnshire Police officers are working closely with forces in Nottinghamshire and a number of enquiries are being made in the Lincoln area.

Enquiries are also being carried out in Newark in the area of the train station and Waitrose, which are close to the River Trent.

Emily is described as 5ft 9” tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and blue eyes.

She was wearing dark jeans, a maroon jumper and a red mac coat. It is believed she does not have any personal possessions with her such as her phone or bank cards, nor does she have any medication for a pre-existing medical condition.

Emily’s family and the police are concerned for her welfare and would like to know that she is safe and well.

If anyone has any information about Emily, or has seen a woman meeting her description, they’re asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 376 of December 2.

Lincolnshire Police are investigating and offering reassurance to members of the public in the Lincoln village of Nocton after a young girl was approached.

The nine-year old girl was approached by a person on Main Street just after 3.30pm on December 4.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said: “It is not yet clear whether the incident reported involved a man or woman.

“It was reported to police and an enquiry was immediately launched.

“Officers attended the scene and spoke to the girl involved, and a number of enquiries are ongoing.”

Police officers attended local schools on Friday, December 5 and letters have been sent home to parents notifying them of the investigation.

There will be extra police presence in the area over the next few days.

Anyone who was in the area at the time, who may have information, is being asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 281.

Lincoln Police officers are investigating a series of suspicious incidents that occurred in connecting Birchwood streets in one night.

Between the times of 5.30pm and 10pm on December 2, unknown offenders entered a front garden on Waltham Road and were seen to be shouting, swearing and shaking a stick at the occupant in order to intimidate them.

In the space of the 20 minutes, offenders attempted to steal a motorbike helmet that was left unattended with a motorbike on Lissett Close.

The offenders were disturbed however and fled the scene through gardens and out onto Doddington Road.

The final incident has occurred on Elvington Road, whereby three greenhouse windows and a garage window were smashed.

Police say it is not yet known if all three incidents concern the same offenders.

Anyone who saw or heard anything should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incidents 318,326 or 411 of December 2.

A 33-year-old man was assaulted on a Lincoln village road, and police are looking to speak to a female driver who stopped to intervene.

Two men, aged 23 and 48, have been arrested on suspicion of assault, and have been bailed pending further enquiries.

The man was crossing Church Lane in Harmston village between 5.30pm to 5.45pm on December 3 when a red flatbed transit van stopped sharply next to him.

The male driver and male passenger got out of the van and the two men assaulted the victim.

Police are particularly keen to trace and talk to a female driver who, when passing by, stopped her car and intervened. She may be able to assist the enquiry.

The victim was not seriously injured in the incident but suffered swelling and bruising as a result.

Anyone with information relating to the incident should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident 283 of December 3.

Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Neil Rhodes has said that the force could be the first in the country to “fall over” due to funding cuts in a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May.

In the letter, the Chief Constable warns that the current funding arrangements would make the force “unsustainable” and frontline services would be in jeopardy by 2018.

Lincolnshire Police say the letter was written in agreement with Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick, and debated by the Lincolnshire Police Crime Panel.

The force, which is the third largest policing area in the country, has previously received an outstanding mark for delivering affordable policing in a HMIC report.

Despite remodelling the force in reaction to government cuts, concern remains for the force’s ability to cope with a further funding squeeze.

After a visit to Lincoln earlier this year the Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey shared concerns of the consequences for further cuts to the force.

With a predicted 4% decrease in government funding, Neil Rhodes’ stark letter to the Home Secretary highlights a shortfall of £10.4 million, meaning front line officers would be axed.

Officer numbers have already been slashed from 1,220 to 1,200, but Mr Rhodes is expecting a further 236-officer reduction.

Police and Crime Commissioner Allan Hardwick also wrote to the Home Secretary about the future funding issues facing the county.

Mr Rhodes published the letter in full on Monday, December 8:

“The future sustainability of policing services in Lincolnshire within the current funding arrangements

“As we begin to finalise our budget arrangements for 2015/16, with a view to the years immediately beyond that, it is important that I draw your attention unequivocally to the problem in terms of sustainable policing services that confronts the communities of Lincolnshire and which is a cause of grave concern to me.

“A smaller, forward looking and innovative force that has embraced change, Lincolnshire Police in 2016/17 will be, on the basis of current financial projections, on the edge of viability. In the following year it will be unsustainable. Having balanced our books in probably the most challenging position in the country, we firmly believe that we are an exemplar of good practice and efficiency – graded ‘Outstanding’ by HMIC for the provision of affordable policing – yet find our very future threatened by an anomalous funding formula and the blunt instrument of straight percentage cuts.

“We have worked hard over the past year in particular to shape and inform Government thinking, hosting visits from the previous Police Minister and groups of senior civil servants. We participate in a number of government-led groups looking at these issues, however, all are working to produce information for Summer 2015 and we must take decisions now if we are to produce balanced budgets. Our principal means of reducing budgets is now almost solely by reducing officer numbers.

“There are two key problems with this approach to reducing costs. Firstly, to cut officer numbers by the amount needed would mean service degradation to a level that would be unacceptable to our communities and compromise both public safety and officer safety. Secondly, the scale of reduction required far outstrips our ability to cut numbers through normal means.

A short overview of the force

“Lincolnshire Police covers the third largest policing area in the country (almost 2300 square miles) with just 1100 officers, 149 PCSOs and 256 police staff. The cost of policing per head of population is the very lowest in the country, whereas the caseload of officers is the third highest. Despite this, force performance is very good, crime detection and resolution is on a par with most forces and there has been really significant crime reduction in recent years – although last year’s reduction was small and this year’s is currently neutral.

“In this Comprehensive Spending Review round, being required to take out £19.7m from a £120m budget, the force restructured to work as one unit without BCUs, reduced officer numbers by 120, and cut significantly non-staff budgets. We also entered into a ground-breaking outsourcing arrangement with a private sector provider that sees many back office functions supplied at much lower costs, whilst retaining 575 jobs in the Lincolnshire economy.

“In addition, there has been a real drive to embrace and lead regional collaboration, with major crime, serious and organised crime and specialist operational services such as roads policing and armed policing being delivered with neighbouring forces. We led the creation of the East Midlands Criminal Justice Service, which will see for the first time an integrated criminal justice IT platform across four forces.

The financial position in brief

“Based on prudent assumptions, if the pot of money we believe is available to policing in the next few years continues to be allocated in the usual manner, then Lincolnshire Police will have a funding gap of £7.6m in 2016/17 growing to £10.4m in 2017/18. Alternatively, if there was to be no reduction in central police grant, then cost pressures such as a 1% pay rise and the scheduled increase in employer National Insurance contributions would still mean a £3-3.5m gap.

“Although we are working hard and innovatively to drive out further savings, our ability to make any real impact on that number simply has to be by reducing police officers and PCSOs. £10.4m equates broadly to 236 officers. To make a further reduction of police officers (or combination of officers and PCSOs) would mean significant service degradation to a level that the community would find unacceptable.

The impact of service degradation

“Lincolnshire Police has a trusted and tested approach to forecasting resources and demand that has been reviewed by HMIC. Chief officers recently worked through the service degradation impact of a scenario where officer and PCSO numbers were cut in line with the potential budget reductions indicated.

Our professional opinion is that –

• Although the ability to deal with major crime, serious and organised crime and the provision of specialist operational services such as roads policing and armed policing will be sustained through existing collaborative arrangements, there will be almost no capacity to provide mutual aid in public disorder scenarios.
• Meaningful Neighbourhood Policing as we currently practise it will cease, with no constable community beat managers and just a few PCSOs.
• The lowest level of local political engagement will be at inspector level.
• The spectrum of response times experienced by those calling for our attendance will increase substantially (work being done to quantify change).
• Pro-active patrol as opposed to response will almost cease.
  The range of offences where a meaningful investigation will be possible will reduce (work being done to quantify).
• Computer enabled (cyber) crime capacity will be sustained, but not expanded in line with the growing need.
• Child Sexual Exploitation investigations, by necessity, will focus on the here and now with limited ability to examine historical cases.
• Except where the financial business case remained strong, the force would be obliged to withdraw from pro-active partnership working, where it so often provides the glue in relationships.
• The Police Service often finds itself the service of last resort, particularly as others contract because of funding issues. Lincolnshire Police would continue to strive to deal with emergency need in appropriate cases around, for example, mental health or ambulance attendance times, but that ability would be severely constrained.
• With lower numbers and significant distances to travel officer safety will be compromised more frequently.
  Public confidence in policing and those charged with providing it will be severely eroded.
• Although there would be much that could be done to mitigate the worst effects of this service degradation, local policing in Lincolnshire would look and feel very different to the rest of the East Midlands. Our communities, whilst still paying a higher level of police precept.

“Council Tax, would look with envy across boundaries to much better funded neighbouring counties, and that simply cannot be right.

The future shape of policing

“My PCC has made his views clear that he favours the continuation of an independent force in Lincolnshire. It is my settled view too, as both the current chief constable and a long standing resident of this county that because of size, identity and policing need it is right that the county retain its own police force.

“As a force, being resolutely apolitical, we see a range of potential structural options for change in future years for the police service. No serious discussion appears to be taking place around a national force, feasible options range from mandated collaboration in certain areas, through the forming of strategic sized forces (where two or more combine to achieve a size where real economies of scale can be had), to the creation of regional forces. Work undertaken in Lincolnshire over recent years, in terms of restructuring and being a driving force in regional collaboration, currently positions us well whatever course of action is chosen.

“The real issue for Lincolnshire Police is viability during the transition period from 2016/17 to the adoption of any new or revised model.

Other forces approaching similar situations

“Lincolnshire Police is not the only force facing challenges of this order, however it is the one for whom the issues will probably crystallise first, owing to the organisational restructuring and aggressive cost cutting that has enabled it to meet the challenges of the current Comprehensive Spending Review period and its position as an outlier, being the least expensive force in the country. HMIC also identify a cluster of around six forces for whom size and other factors will limit capacity to bear further cuts.

Potential solutions

“We appreciate that the overall pot of money for policing will shrink further. It is vital that the smaller pot is targeted carefully and fairly.

“Any funding formula adjustments that provide relief will be welcome, although we acknowledge that it is the nature of formula driven approaches that there will be anomalies and outliers who will potentially be disadvantaged. In the past grants have been tailored to compensate for rurality or sparsity and they can prove useful, but are unlikely to cover comprehensively the forces that need help whilst there will be bonuses for unintended beneficiaries.

“The most productive and fair approach may be to recognise that there is simply a cost to being in business for a smaller force that acknowledges a set of fixed core costs and to implement a ‘cost of being in business’ funding net or floor at a modest but sensible level (we have suggestions as to how this might be achieved) and then allow a revised funding formula to allocate the distribution of the bulk of monies. The impact of this approach on the funding of medium to larger forces would be marginal indeed but it would give a massive lift to the half dozen smaller forces, moving them into a zone where savings may be difficult but would at least be possible. If this were coupled with an approach where budget reductions were made with more surgical precision than the blunt instrument of straight percentage cuts, real progress might be made.

In conclusion

“In Lincolnshire we would like to be seen as part of the solution to the difficulties the Police Service faces, rather than an element of the problem. Our structural leanness, low unit costs and innovative approaches, coupled with pretty good performance, have to present an example to others.

“The Police and Crime Commissioner and I would really welcome the opportunity to host a short visit to Lincolnshire to demonstrate what this force has to offer, or alternatively could travel to London to present our thoughts if that is more convenient.

“I look forward to hearing from you and hope you can find time in your diary to either come to the county or receive a visit from us.”

A man in his 40s was hospitalised with head injuries after being assaulted in Lincoln city centre at the weekend.

The incident was reported to Lincolnshire Police just after 4.05am on Sunday, December 7.

The man was assaulted near the Stonebow in Lincoln and was taken to Lincoln County Hospital for treatment for injuries to his head.

He was later discharged and is now recovering at home.

Officers investigating believe the assault happened close to the HSBC Bank and may have involved more than one offender.

The area where the assault occurred was cordoned off for a period of time as investigations were carried out.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information relating to it is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 76 of December 7.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A young woman and a man have been stabbed in Lincoln on Monday night.

The incident happened outside an address on Arboretum Avenue and was reported to police just after 8pm on December 8.

A 22-year-old woman was not seriously injured in the incident and sustained a puncture wound to her arm. She has been taken to hospital for treatment.

A 36-year-old man suffered one stab wound to his back and one to his chest. He has been taken to hospital and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A scene guard has been put in place while investigations are carried out.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 421 of 08/12/2014.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Lincolnshire Police are continuing their investigation into a double stabbing in Lincoln on Monday night.

As previously reported, the incident was reported to police just after 8pm on December 8 at an address on Arboretum Avenue in the Monks Road area.

A 22-year-old woman was not seriously injured in the incident but sustained a puncture wound to her arm.

She was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

A 36-year-old man suffered two stab wounds to the abdomen — not to his back and chest as originally reported.

He has been taken to hospital and remains there this morning for treatment. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Officers are still at the scene carrying out enquiries and are retaining a presence in the residential area.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 421 of December 8.

Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) in connection with a stabbing in Lincoln on Monday night.

They are currently in police custody and will be interviewed by officers soon, Lincolnshire Police said.

As previously reported, the incident was reported to police just after 8pm on December 8 at an address on Arboretum Avenue in the Monks Road area.

A 22-year-old woman was not seriously injured in the incident but sustained a puncture wound to her arm. She was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

A 36-year-old man suffered two stab wounds to the abdomen. He has been taken to hospital and remains there this morning for treatment. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

DI Suzanne Davies, of Lincoln CID, said: “Two people have been arrested on suspicion of GBH today in connection with the incident in Arboretum Avenue last night. We are continuing to investigate and have been carrying out a number on enquiries, including at the scene, since last night.

“I know this has been worrying for residents in the area, and indeed those further afield in Lincoln, and I would like to reassure people that this type of incident is rare and we are carrying out a thorough investigation into the circumstances.

“Investigating officers have been working hard to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding this incident and I would still like to hear from any witnesses or anyone who has any information that may be relevant to the enquiry.

“Did you see or hear a disturance in Arboretum Avenue last night? Did you see or hear anything suspicious or out of place? Please don’t hesitate to contact us on 101 quoting incident 421 of 8th December 2014 or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Police investigating the stabbing of two people in the Monks Road area of Lincoln have arrested a third person on suspicion of GBH and robbery.

As previously reported, a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested on Tuesday, December 9 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) in connection with the stabbing.

Another man, aged 21, was arrested overnight.

The incident, which occurred at an address on Arboretum Avenue on December 8, saw a man and woman stabbed.

The woman, 22, was not seriously injured in the incident but sustained a puncture wound to her arm.

The man, 36, suffered two stab wounds to the abdomen.

All three, who are from Lincoln, and are currently in police custody where they will be interviewed by officers in due course.

Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, referencing incident number 421 of December 8.

There has been no trace of Lincoln woman Emily Holloway since she was reported as missing more than a week ago.

Lincolnshire Police, who are also working with forces in Nottinghamshire, are continuing their investigation into her disappearance.

As previously reported, Emily was last seen when she was dropped off by a taxi in Newark, near Waitrose, in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, December 2.

Enquiries have been carried out in Newark in the area of the train station and Waitrose, which are close to the River Trent.

Emily is described as 5ft 9” tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and blue eyes. She was wearing dark jeans, a maroon jumper and a red mac coat.

It is believed she does not have any personal possessions with her such as her phone or bank cards.

Police are urging people to recall if they have seen a woman meeting her description during the last week.

Officers say her family are extremely worried about her, and anxious to know that she is safe.

Please could anyone with information contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 376 of December 2, 2014.

Police are looking for two men in relation to an incident of aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving in Coningsby.

The incident happened in the early hours of October 19 at the bus depot on Old Boston Road in the village.

Two men entered the depot and started a bus using keys they found.

They then took the bus for a joyride and crashed it into another bus then some trees.

PC Pindar-Jones is investigating the case and wants to hear from anyone with information specifically about the current whereabouts of the two men in the CCTV stills, not just their identity.

Anyone with information should contact Lincolnshire Police by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 232 of October 19.

Three people who were arrested in connection with a double stabbing in Lincoln have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Lincolnshire Police are continuing their appeal for information after a man (36) and woman (22) were stabbed at a home on Arboretum Avenue in the Monks Road area on December 8.

A 19-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were arrested this week on suspicion of GBH and robbery following the incident.

All three have now been released on police bail.

The woman, 22, was not seriously injured in the incident but sustained a puncture wound to her arm. The man, 36, suffered two stab wounds to the abdomen.

Officers are still keen to hear from anyone who may have any information on the non-emergency number 101 quoting incident 481 of December 8, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Membership organisation CLA East is urging Lincolnshire farmers and landowners to remain vigilant to the threat of illegal raves during seasonal celebrations.

It is advising its members to reduce the risk of any illegal activity occurring in empty and remote buildings by ensuring they are secure and regularly monitored.

It also advises that access to land is restricted wherever possible by the use of locked gates; that any unusual activity around buildings or land is reported to Lincolnshire Police; and to ensure any employees are made aware of the need to report any unusual activity.

Suspicious activity around open land or disused buildings should be reported to the police on 101. This includes:

• Any information that an illegal rave is taking place
• Any sightings of vans, lorries or large numbers of vehicles gathering near woods, rural car parks or near to disused buildings/warehouse
• Sightings of fliers advertising raves
• Broken padlocks on access gates to areas where a rave may take place

The organisation says it saw a spate of unlicensed music events in January last year. One held at Dunsby, near Bourne, saw 300 people attending and eight people were charged with causing a public nuisance.

There were also three raves discovered in Martin, Blankney and Dowsby.

During the festive period in 2013 Lincolnshire Police prevented some 400 people from attending an illegal rave near Sturton by Stow outside Lincoln.

CLA Eastern Regional Director Nicola Currie said: “Illegal raves cause a great deal of disruption to local communities, with the resulting mess causing considerable harm to both wildlife and the environment.

“These illegal gatherings can also create unnecessary problems for landowners, who could fall victim to considerable clean-up costs and expensive repairs to outbuildings.

“We urge farmers and landowners to help the Police by reporting any suspicious activity, as early intervention and good local intelligence can prevent these illegal events from taking place.

“Officers find it much harder to shut down a rave once it has already started so if you spot anyone suspicious on rural land or a number of unfamiliar vehicles in your area, then please report any such activity on the non-emergency number of 101 as soon as possible.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after an 80-year-old man was pushed to the ground and robbed at Lincoln bus station.

The incident happened some time between 5pm and 5.20pm on Monday, December 15, when the elderly man was approached by a man at the bus station on Melville Street.

Officers say he was pulled to the ground and money was taken from his coat pocket.

The elderly man did not sustain any significant injuries, but was frightened and upset by the ordeal, police said.

The robber is described as a white man in his 20s. He was about 5ft 8″ tall, slim in build and wearing a black hooded coat and black tracksuit bottoms. He ran in the direction of the train station.

The bus station would have been very busy at that time of the day, and police are appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything relating to this robbery to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote incident number 354 of December 15. Alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police in the Castle and Minster wards of Lincoln are advising vehicle owners after a theft spike in the lead up to Christmas.

Some 15 incidents of theft have been reported to police in the north of Lincoln over two weeks, and many have involved possessions being taken from motor vehicles.

• Incident 132 November 30 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Queen Elizabeth Road where an Ipad 3, Asus Laptop and a Reebok bag containing clothes was stolen

• Incident 358 November 30 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Saxon Street where a brown handbag containing a silver necklace was stolen

• Incident 72 December 3 – refers to an Attempt Theft From Motor Vehicle on Upper Saxon Street where a rear window was smashed, nothing has been reported as stolen

• Incident 56 December 5 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Chestnut Street where loose change was stolen

• Incident 364 December 6 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Higson Road where cash, a Fisher Price Bounce and play and a TomTom Satnav was stolen

• Incident 68 December 8 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Laughton Way North where a Stihl hedge cutter and a Stihl blower was stolen

• Incident 78 December 8 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Manton Road where a laptop bag was stolen, fortunately the laptop was not in the vehicle

• Incident 50 December 9 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Harmston Close where a CD and paperwork has been stolen

• Incident 110 December 10 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Brattleby Crescent where a Stihl Safety Guard BG86 leaf blower was stolen

• Incident 173 December 11 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Deansleigh where a purse containing bank cards has been stolen

• Incident 146 December 13 – refers to a Taken From Motor Vehicle on Redbourne Drive where a purse containing bank cards has been stolen

Officers are advising people to not leave any items in their cars to prevent them from becoming victims.

Officers said in a social media post: “This includes coats, bags, CDs, DVDs, sunglasses, electronic device chargers/cradles, spare change, perfumes, tools or any valuables such as a SatNav, mobile phone, wallets/purses or cash.

“It is also a good idea to leave compartments, such as the glove box, open so that it is obvious to anyone looking through your vehicle that there are no valuables inside.”

During the same window, a number of burglaries have taken place in north Lincoln. A percentage of these burglaries involved parcels being stolen from doorsteps after being left by a courier:

• Incident 358 November 30 – refers to a Burglary in Epworth View where a playstation 4 was stolen

• Incident 327 December 2 – refers to a Burglary on Ruskin Avenue where a gold locket, a gold bracelet, a gold ladies watch, a gold cluster ring with red stones, two gold signet rings with oval shaped black stone were stolen

• Incident 179 December 6 – refers to a theft on Thurlby Crescent where a parcel was stolen that was left by the courier on the doorstep. This parcel contained red high heeled shoes with devil tail and horns, a pale blue Zombie mermaid shoes, a dark coloured skirt with skull print and a handbag with devil features.

• Incident 388 December 8 – refers to a theft on Thurlby Crescent where a male attempted to steal a parcel left on the door step by the courier. Fortunately the owner returned just as the male was leaving the garden to the property and the package was handed back. Suspect description – White male, approximately 6ft, skinny with short brown hair. Wearing a Royal Blue coloured coat and stonewashed jeans. He spoke English with no accent. The males identity is unknown.

Officers stated on social media: “It is coming up to the Christmas period and more packages are going to be delivered in time for Christmas.

“The above two incidents are a clear reminder that opportunistic thieves are operating in our area. It is a good idea to ask a trusted neighbour to receive packages for you whilst you are out and to let the courier know where to deliver your packages by leaving a note on the door.”

Anyone with information regarding the above crimes should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting the relevant incident number.

An 18-year-old University of Lincoln student has died in the early hours of Wednesday, and police are treating his death as unexplained.

The ambulance service was called at 3:30am on December 17 at Danesgate House on Grantham Street in Lincoln as the student was feeling unwell.

He was taken to Lincoln County Hospital (LCH) where he was later declared deceased.

Lincolnshire Police initially believed that the 18-year-old had earlier been taken ill at the Status Nightclub on Silver Street in Lincoln before making his way back to his accommodation at Danesgate House.

However, on Wednesday afternoon police said their investigation now shows that the student and his friends were not in fact at Status Nightclub on Tuesday evening but had been at Danesgate for most of the evening.

The young man is from the Manchester area. Some family members are aware of his death and police are in the process of ensuring that his friends are also informed.

His death is presently unexplained and is likely to remain so until a post mortem is carried out and the results are known.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Davies of Lincoln CID said: “His family are looking for and deserve some answers to their questions. I would appeal for anyone with any information to call us via the non-emergency 101 telephone number.”

A University of Lincoln spokesperson said in a statement: “The University of Lincoln is extremely saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our students last night.

“The University’s Student Support Service is on hand to provide support, including a confidential counselling service, to any students affected by this tragic loss. Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends at this very sad time.”

Lincolnshire Police received news today of a further £3 million cut to their budget, despite Chief Constable Neil Rhodes warning the Home Secretary last week that the force could collapse if more funds are cut.

In response to the Chief Constable’s message, mirrored in a letter by Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick, Home Secretary Theresa May accepted that the force had delivered a strong performance in affordable policing.

She praised the efficiency of the public service in her response and said that others need to learn from the achievements made.

However, on Wednesday Lincolnshire Police were offered a grant settlement equal to a reduction in cash terms of over £3 million.

Officer numbers have already been slashed from 1,220 to 1,200, but Chief Constable Rhodes is expecting a further 236-officer reduction.

In a statement the force said the cut would further increase the pressure on their “already stretched budgets and make it difficult to maintain current levels of service beyond the next financial year.”

Lincolnshire Police said: “Local policing – the bedrock of policing in Britain – has suffered again today. Funding has been taken away from local communities, and instead directed towards the ineffective independent police complaints commission and other national bodies such as the College of Policing.

“We continue to urge the Government to urgently review the funding formula and heed the advice of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

“HMIC have clearly stated it has concerns about the ability of Lincolnshire Police to maintain its current level of service to the communities of Lincolnshire beyond 2016 and deems us to be at risk. We remain committed to working with the Home Secretary to develop a sustainable solution for Lincolnshire Police and those it serves.”