South Holland Police

15/10/2026

“Children deserve better than survival. They deserve peace. They deserve calm."

We are sharing the following words from a survivor who grew up experiencing domestic abuse. With honesty and reflection, she shares how this shaped her outlook and her self-worth. She has chosen to do this because of a drive to help others and raise awareness.

This survivor wrote:
“I didn't know love wasn't supposed to hurt.
“I thought staying proved you loved someone.
“I thought sacrificing yourself was what partners did.
“I thought surviving was the same as being loved.
“I couldn't have been more wrong.
“Sometimes I wonder what my life would have looked like if my mum had left sooner.
“Not because I blame her I never could.
“I know now how impossible leaving can feel.
“I know about fear.
“I know about manipulation.
“I know about trauma bonds.
“I know that leaving is often the most dangerous time.
“This isn't about blaming her.
“It's about grieving the little girl I used to be.
“Because maybe... Just maybe... If I'd seen my mum choose herself... I'd have learned I was allowed to choose myself too.
“Maybe I'd have recognised the warning signs. Maybe I'd have walked away the first time someone made me feel small. Maybe I wouldn't have spent years chasing people who only knew how to break me. Maybe I wouldn't have confused control with care. Maybe I would have known that love shouldn't leave bruises—on your body or on your soul.
“People say children need two parents. I disagree.
“Children need safety.
“Children need peace.
“Children need to know they'll wake up tomorrow with the people they love still alive.
“I'd rather my child grew up in one tiny flat full of laughter than a mansion full of fear.
“I'd rather my child had one happy parent than watched one parent bury the other.
“I'd rather my daughter learned that walking away from abuse is strength than grow up believing enduring it is love.
“Children deserve better than survival.
“They deserve peace.
“They deserve calm.
“They deserve homes where laughter is louder than shouting.
“Where footsteps don't make their stomachs drop.
“Where keys turning in the front door don't fill them with dread.
“Where bedtime means stories instead of tears.
“We spend so much time protecting children from strangers.
“We worry about social media. We worry about drugs. We worry about bad influences.
“Yet some children are living with the most dangerous thing they'll ever encounter... Inside their own home.
“Abuse doesn't just leave bruises. It rewires children.
“It teaches them that love hurts. That fear is normal.
“That silence is safer than speaking. That surviving is the same as living.
“It takes years to unlearn those lessons.
“I'm still trying.
“So when I say don't stay together just for the children... Please understand where those words come from.
“They come from the little girl who thought every scream was going to be the last one she ever heard.
“They come from the woman who spent years accepting less than she deserved because abuse felt familiar.
“And they come from a mum who would rather her daughter grow up with one peaceful home than two parents trapped in a violent one.
“Because homes aren't built by keeping two adults under one roof.
“They're built with love. With safety. With respect. With peace.
“If those things have gone, then sometimes the bravest thing you can do for your children isn't staying.
“It's leaving.
“Because leaving doesn't always break a family.
“Sometimes...It's the first step towards finally saving one.”

We would like to thank this survivor for sharing her story so bravely and candidly in the hope it might help others. If you have experienced domestic abuse, please know that there is help and support available.

Call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Haven Domestic Abuse Service are a registered charity covering Boston and South Holland providing support, advice and safe housing for male and female victims of domestic abuse and their children. For more information, please see the link in comments.

12/10/2026

No dispersal notices were issued during the operation this weekend (10-12 October) in Sutton Bridge, which is a positive indication that the increased police presence and engagement had the desired effect.

UPDATE: A dispersal order put in place over the weekend in Sutton Bridge helped provide reassurance to the community, with a noticeable reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour.

During the period of the order, which was in place from 8am Saturday 10 October to 8am 12 October, officers received very few calls relating to ASB. One incident was reported involving a group of youths banging on a door, which officers dealt with appropriately.

No dispersal notices were issued during the operation, which is a positive indication that the increased police presence and engagement had the desired effect.

🗣️ South Holland Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Paul Smith, said: “The purpose of the dispersal order was to prevent anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance to residents and give officers additional powers should they be needed. Pleasingly, reports reduced significantly over the weekend, and we did not need to issue any dispersal notices.

“We understand the impact persistent anti-social behaviour can have on local communities and we will continue to work with our partners and engage with young people to address concerns before they escalate. We would encourage residents to continue reporting issues to us so we can build an accurate picture and direct our resources where they are most needed.”

Thank you to everyone who continued to report concerns and speak with officers. We will continue to monitor the area and work with partners to ensure local residents can feel safe and enjoy their community without disruption.

11/10/2026

We are appealing for information after two people died following a collision near Crowland.

Following a call to us at 6.43pm on Friday, 9 October, we attended the B1166 (Hulls Drove) near Patchett’s Bridge.

The collision involved two vehicles: a red Hyundai I10 travelling westbound and a grey Fiat 500X travelling eastbound.

Sadly, both the male driver and female passenger of the Hyundai were declared dead at the scene of the collision.

The driver of the Fiat, a woman, was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-changing nor life-altering.

The road was closed while emergency services attended. It was re-opened around 7am on Saturday morning,

We are now appealing for anyone who saw the collision or who has dashcam footage to contact us:

Email [email protected] quoting Incident 405 of 9 October.

09/10/2026

Part of Hulls Drive, near Crowland, has been closed following a collision reported to us at 6.43pm.

We are aware that some vehicles are trying to get past the closure – emergency services are attending and drivers should find alternative routes.

Incident 405 of 9 October.

09/10/2026

Inspector Paul Smith has authorised a dispersal order for 10 October 2026 between 08:00 hours and 12 October until 08:00 hours in the Sutton Bridge area. Details below.

📢 DISPERSAL ORDER ISSUED, SUTTON BRIDGE

We are aware of reports of anti-social behaviour in the Sutton Bridge area, some of which have crossed the threshold into criminality.

Inspector Paul Smith has authorised a dispersal order for 10 October 2026 between 08:00 hours and 12 October until 08:00 hours. A Section 35 Dispersal Order gives officers the power to require individuals to leave a specified area of Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge and all roads directly adjoining including the grounds of the Sutton Bridge Memorial Park, if they are contributing, or are likely to contribute, to harassment, alarm, distress, crime or disorder. Failure to comply with a direction to leave is an arrestable offence.

A number of incidents have been reported which include damage being caused to houses, house doors being kicked and eggs and stones being thrown at people and properties. The behaviours are causing local residents to be alarmed and fearful of being victims to said behaviours. The local Neighbourhood Policing team are working with members of the public, partner agencies and parents.

🗣️ Inspector Paul Smith from South Holland’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "We want to reassure the public that we are taking these reports extremely seriously. Anti-social behaviour and criminality that impacts our communities will not be tolerated. Additional resources have been deployed to the area, a dispersal order is in place, and officers will use all appropriate powers to prevent further incidents.

"We understand the significant impact this behaviour is having on residents and businesses. While we will continue to work with young people and their families to address issues early and provide support where appropriate, there must also be accountability. Where advice, engagement and intervention are not accepted, we will take an incremental approach that escalates from warnings and formal agreements through to enforcement action where necessary.

"Parents and guardians have an important role to play. If you believe your child may be involved, I would encourage you to speak to them and contact us so we can intervene at the earliest opportunity.

"Offences are to be dealt with robustly. We are determined to protect our community, support those affected, and take decisive action against those who continue to engage in anti-social or criminal behaviour."

07/10/2026

Shop theft will not be tolerated in Spalding.

06/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1SVmZGSxpa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🗞📣Repeat anti-social behaviour offender jailed following enforcement action by South Holland District Council

A woman who breached a court injunction secured by South Holland District Council’s Housing and Safer Communities teams following persistent anti-social behaviour has been sentenced to two months custody at Lincoln County Court.

Mia Rock was served with the injunction in August this year following incidents of anti-social behaviour which seriously impacted the lives of South Holland District Council tenants in the Spalding area.

The court order banned her from going to certain places and from contacting anyone involved in the case, either directly or through someone else.

The Council's Housing and Safer Communities teams led the case, working closely with affected tenants and Lincolnshire Police to gather evidence, secure the injunction and take enforcement action when breaches occurred.

At the hearing, Mia Rock pleaded guilty to the breaches of the injunction.

Cllr Tracey Carter, Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing at South Holland District Council, said: “I would like to thank the tenants for working with our Housing and Safer Communities Teams for providing evidence and reporting incidents to us. This is a positive outcome and the tenants can now live happier in their homes.

“This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness and the commitment of all partners to respond to anti-social behaviour in our communities and take action when breaches occur. the police and resident in responding to reports and taking action when breaches occur.”

South Holland Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Callum Corder said: “This case highlights the value of our close collaboration with local partners, enabling us to take coordinated action to protect residents and reduce the impact of antisocial behaviour on the community.

The Civil Injunction will remain in force following release from custody, continuing to provide protection for residents.

South Holland Police Lincolnshire Police

01/10/2026

Have you seen Charlie Higgs?

We are appealing for information to locate wanted man, Charlie Higgs, who has connections to Gedney Hill, Spalding but also to Surrey.

Higgs, 29, is wanted for failing to appear at Boston Magistrates Court in respect of charges of r**e and digital pe*******on of a female.

If you have any information that can help locate Higgs please get in touch by:
• Email [email protected] quoting reference 25000170387
• Call 101 quoting 25000170387
• Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or by calling 0800 555111.

01/10/2026

Do you recognise something that belongs to you, or an item that belongs to someone you know?

28/09/2026

We are appealing for information and dash cam footage after a serious collision in Spalding.

The incident involving a black Volvo C30 and a blue Skoda Karoq took place at around 4.15pm on Fulney Drove, Clay Lake Bank on Saturday, 26 September.

Multiple people sustained injuries in the collision and now investigators are urging members of the public to come forward if they have information.

If you have any dash cam footage, CCTV, saw the vehicles before or after the collision, or have any details you think may prove useful, please get in touch.

You can provide information by emailing [email protected] quoting the incident number 299 of 26/09/2026.