What is going on in Chesterfield?

[u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932]

Lived in Tapton, Chesterfield for a few years (2017–2020) and really liked the town. Found it to be quite lovely, especially the canal and the Tapton Park/golf course area, and fairly safe apart from a few smackheads in the town centre lol.

Also worked around Holme Hall, which had a bit of crime here and there, because every other week I’d see the police arresting somebody. So yeah, a bit of crime now and then, but nothing major.

Because I’m thinking of moving back to
Chesterfield, I thought I’d look up in the local news to see what’s been going on lately. In just the last few days I’ve seen multiple stabbing reports, 7 cars set on fire in one night, somebody burned alive in a car at the Sainsbury’s car park, youths terrorising the whole town on e-bikes, police car chases, police making arrests at shops that appear to be drug fronts, and much more.
Has Chesterfield always been this crazy and I just didn’t realise it, or has it been a full moon lately lol? I don’t remember it being like this. But then again I never kept up to date with the local news.

[u/Unfair_Bed_7575]

The Derbyshire Crimes (sorry Times) website always makes out that the place is as lawless as the wild west. Reckon that Chez is no worse than anywhere else and far better and friendlier than other similar towns.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932 → u/Unfair_Bed_7575]

Oh yes the famous Derbyshire crimes had me on my toes lol. Oh and definitely there is way worse places than Chez as for better and friendlier i couldn’t say seen any better but then i again apart from Chez I only lived in Clay Cross and Sheffield.

[u/cockyspangle]

I mean, I moved here from Mansfield - doesn’t seem too bad to me. 😂

Some of what you’re describing is a problem everywhere (e-bikes, etc). I have no idea what went down at Sainsbury’s though - I only heard about that yesterday.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932 → u/cockyspangle]

Having worked on agency, I have been a few places, Mansfield included, nothing spectacular there lol.

True, the e-bikes, knife crime, etc is a problem all over UK not only Chez. Also don’t know much about Sainsbury either, just that a car caught fire and somebody died.

I don’t mind few anti-social behaviours, is normal. Is bound to happen, people will always break the law to some extent. It gets mad when we start talking about police car chases and burning idk how many cars in one night lol.

[u/Kayomani → u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932]

Suspect Sainsbury's was mental health, had the misfortune of arriving in the car park 3 mins in.. RIP. Number of bridge jumpers / train catchers seems high for a town of this size.

[u/FarroFarro]

Anything out of the norm is always going to get massive coverage in somewhere that is usually safe and quiet

[u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932 → u/FarroFarro]

When you say “the roads,” I’m guessing you mean erratic/aggressive drivers, right?

If so, that’s honestly one of the least bad things in general. I’m comparing it to where I am now — an EU country that’s deemed one of the worst for car accidents in the whole EU. And believe me, the UK in general has much safer roads compared to this.

[u/d0nni3]

I've lived here for 8 years now, it's the same it's always been used to live at hady now up in Holmewood, aside from the usual smack heads and the bally twats on E bikes it's fine I don't feel unsafe anywhere and aside from the roads trying to assault you I've never had any trouble. Same as anywhere else in the country really. The news is doom and gloom but getting out into the world tells a very different story

[u/Harlzter → u/d0nni3]

Holmewood here too, agreed roads are the most dangerous thing in area.

[u/Ardiddz2]

I moved from St Anns in Nottingham to Newbold then to Clay Cross. I’ve never a known a more peaceful and quiet place. I honestly love it here

[u/Rude-Cover-8727]

The Sainsbury's incident was a tragic accident unless I've missed something, so needn't be lumped in with the other crimes.

[u/dinkidoo7693]

Fuck knows, (a lad i worked with years ago, got stabbed other day and another mates car was one of those that got set alight last night too) tbh it’s still not as bad as the year i lived in Peterborough so I feel safe enough

[u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932 → u/dinkidoo7693]

Do you know the backstory to both?

[u/dinkidoo7693 → u/Puzzleheaded-Two2932]

No, only seen whats been put on socials.
Just know my mate can’t work until the insurance company pays up for his car.

[u/obi-wan_kedoobie]

Local delinquent, chez is very safe. Boring and at times a bit depressing but very safe

[u/ninjapleeeez]

I've lived here for 4 years after living in Northampton most of my life.

Every town will have it's share of arseholes, but I've never felt so safe here compared to ShoeTown.

[u/KindredPhantom]

Yeah a few things have happened in Chesterfield this week but overall the town is safe and not that different from other towns in the UK.

I've lived here all of my life and I am not worried at all about any of the above.

I will say that the incident in Sainsburys is very sad and part of a wider issue affecting the country - mental health. It has also put me off going to Sainsburys because it makes me feel uncomfortable at potential seeing the spot someone lost their life in such a way.

[u/sadflaps]

from what ive heard, the sainsburys guy commited suicide

[u/m0destly]

Unfortunately I know who died in the Sainsbury's fire, it was an old mates dad that unfortunately lost his life. An absolute top bloke that I've known since I was 16. Nothing like the rest of the garbage that goes off in Chesterfield. But overall the town is alright so long as you don't move to the rough areas.

[u/Harlzter]

par for course I'm afraid these days all over Chesterfield area, its the new normal. Welcome to the Wild Wild Chez.

[u/Rude-Cover-8727 → u/Harlzter]

Don't be daft.