Vandal scourge prompts call for police action (From Stroud News and Journal)

Vandal scourge prompts call for police action

A SPATE of vandalism in Paganhill has left residents with smashed windows, damaged cars, a tree set on fire and the wall of a Grade 11 listed building demolished.

Frustrated Conservative Cllr and resident Haydn Sutton has called on police for the second time in less than a month to hold a public meeting to discuss how to tackle the problem.

He said despite an earlier agreement to hold a meeting in early March, he has not heard anything from police since.

He is also angry that he has not had a response to a strongly worded letter sent to the police on March 20.

Cllr Sutton said residents in the area were at their wits end.

"Last summer people in Mill Farm Drive were having their windows broken. The advice given then was to remove large gravel stones from their gardens," he said.

"What about catching the youths that threw them?

"This vandalism is a serious problem in Paganhill and we law abiding, tax paying citizens of Paganhill feel we are entitled to some human rights and protection by our police force."

Another spokeman for residents said: "Over the years we have all suffered from anti social behaviour from youths.

"We've put up with everything from criminal damage to our windows, doors, garage doors, boundary walls, fences being destroyed as well as graffiti, litter, arson, intimidation and sexually explicit bad language.

"We've had syringes thrown into the garden and drug dealing and dope smoking taking place in the concealed areas of the footpath."

Robert Faithfull, Landlord of the Old Crown pub said: "The police said they would put a neighbourhood officer on the patch but we have not had sight of that person so I don't know if they did.

"They suggested we put CCTV up but we shouldn't have to."

A spokeman for Stroud police said: "We are looking into the issues raised in Cllr Sutton's letter and we will respond in due course.

"If stones are being thrown through windows then removing them does sound like pretty common sense advice."

Prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives, Neil Carmichael, also a Paganhill resident, said: "It is disgraceful. There is far too much anti-social behaviour all over the constituency.

"The police are trying their best but they need to be supported by more police officers. The rising level of anti-social behaviour is unacceptable."