Village complains over police response to playpark damage

A Devon village has complained about what it believes is a “disappointing” response from police over a spate of vandalism.

Willand Parish Council has reported five acts of vandalism to the police, with each incident securing a crime reference number, but has criticised the response in the face of the damage.
Debbie Bird, the clerk to the parish council, outlined damage to a children’s rocker, damage to the pump track’s signage and a wire mesh that protects its drainage, as well as graffiti on a footpath. 
In total, it estimates the damage has cost it more than £3,200.
While there is CCTV footage of the damage caused to the wire mesh, the council acknowledges it shows two individuals wearing hoodies, which police said meant it would be very difficult to identify the culprits.
For the other incidents, the CCTV is either unclear or not available.
“The parish council is disappointed at the police’s failure to carry out any investigation into these crimes and the message this sends to the perpetrators,” Ms Bird said in a letter to chief constable James Vaughan and the office of the police and crime commissioner (OPCC).
“In addition, there appears to be a lack of locally based police officer involvement or contact as these reports appear to have been picked up by police officers in Exeter rather than the local police station.”
Ms Bird added the last time a police officer had attended a parish council meeting in Willand was February 2024, and that even though that officer had said they could attend annually, an invite to this year’s February meeting had “no response”.
“I would ask that you respond to the concerns raised and advise what action is being or will be taken to address incidents of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in our village,” the letter adds.
The OPCC has told the parish council it is “not within the remit of this office to get involved in operational policing matters”, and recommended the complaint go to the police’s own professional standards department.
An email from the police sent to the parish council shows that the complaint has been acknowledged, and thanked the sender for “patience whilst we look into the concerns you have raised with us”.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said it could not comment at this time.