Fear as vandals ‘go on rampage’
Residents across city report ‘mindless’ damage to property
Bath residents have said that ‘mindless vandalism’ happens all over the city after a statue and several cars were damaged in Odd Down on Saturday morning. Police are investigating after a statue was pushed off its plinth outside a church in the Bath suburb and cars had windscreens damaged and tyres slashed. However according to some residents, this kind of behaviour is not uncommon and happens in other areas like Southdown and Weston and Midford Road. One resident said: “Midford Road at 10pm-ish tonight (February 18) all bins and recycling tipped over and my car had footprints all over the bonnet.” Another said: “They are just moving around the city. “Weston had three evenings of it, smashed windscreens and shop windows. They need some kind of noticeable police presence or something!” One said: “Happened on my street, Weston Park, as well last week. Windscreens smashed in and wing mirrors kicked off all the way down the street.” According to one resident, it wasn’t just the church that took a beating. He said: “Odd Down park and ride took a smashing as well.” Another said: “Happened in Southdown on Thursday morning (February 14). I had a brick thrown through my back window!” The comments were in reaction to the vandalism in Odd Down after the Chronicle reported one resident was frustrated with the lack of policing in the city. Bath’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Dominic Tristram of the Green Party, said he was a victim of the ‘mindless vandalism’ He said: “I was a victim of this too as my car wing mirror was knocked off on Friday night. “There is a lack of policing. I would never blame the police as it is not their fault. “They just don’t have the resources. Without the evidence, they cannot do anything about it. “People have lost a huge amount of money and time due to this spate of vandalism. “It is very sad to see the sculpture being targeted. It is a symbol of the church and the area. This is just mindless vandalism. I do not have much time for this. “I think it is just a mindset that gangs have of boredom and antisocial behaviour. “This needs to be tackled by police and instilling in them a stronger sense of community. “Every now and again these gangs have a huge binge of destruction. Police don’t have the manpower to patrol our streets, unfortunately. “Without more funding from the Government, there is only so much that they can do.” Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, said: “This was a rampage, and I feel for anyone who had property damaged, or anyone who was terrorised by these thugs. “We need a proper police station in Bath so vandals don’t think that they can get away with this disgraceful behaviour.”
This was a rampage, and I feel for anyone who had property damaged, or anyone who was terrorised by these thugs. We need a proper police station. Wera Hobhouse, inset