Arsonists leave park an eyesore

POLICE APPEAL TO TACKLE MINDLESS VANDALISM

BURNT-OUT bins and charred trolleys have left a Hull community reeling after a popular park was transformed into an eyesore following a spate of arson attacks.

One woman, who did not want to be named, says wheelie bins have been taken to Bude Park and burnt, leaving a trail of destruction, as well as a sofa also being reduced to a smouldering heap.

Pictures show the plastic bins reduced to nothing but shrivelled plastic, with the waste inside them littering the park as well as trolleys that have been set alight.

She says since September, around ten bins have been burnt out, with the most recent arson attack happening on Thursday, October 1.

“I’m a dog walker and often go to the park, but with these arson attacks it’s made me really angry to see how people are treating the place,” she said.

“It’s disgraceful that they are stealing bins and then setting them on fire.

“It is complete antisocial behaviour, but who knows what they will do next?

“These people start off small with arson and then move on to bigger crimes, so it’s worrying to think what they will do next.

“The shelter looks to have been trashed as well in the park and it looks like they’ve tried to set fire to the picnic benches as well.

“When I last saw the bins on fire, they were close to the trees and it could’ve really spread, so I rang the fire brigade to put it out.

“I’ve also rung the police to report it and I hope that those responsible can be found through either someone keeping watch or CCTV being installed.

“I’ve lived in the area for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before.

“I’m sure people will be complaining that their bins have been stolen and it’s not safe for kids or animals coming into the park when there are tin cans and bits of glass all over the place that have spilled out from the bins, but no one seems to want to listen.”

Humberside Police says it is working with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to investigate the vandalism.

A spokesman for the force said: “We have received reports of rubbish bins having been set alight on Bude Park in Hull.

“One incident was reported to us on Thursday, October 1, and is being investigated as a case of arson as the bins had been taken from local residences and deliberately set alight on the park.

“We would encourage residents to report any suspicious behaviour to us.

“We would also remind residents to do what they can to secure their bins and keep them out of sight as much as possible to prevent them being taken in the first instance.

“We would appeal for anyone who knows who is responsible for this fire to call us on our non-emergency number 101, quoting log 384 of October 1, 2020.”