Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Just heard from Paul. He went to clear up after the workday at the fort and found about ten 13-16 year old kids inside the Shaft. They've ripped out light sockets and flourescent tubes and Paul narrowly got missed by an exploding tube hurled down the Shaft. He called the police, but as they were not caught in the act there will there will be no prosecution. They had ripped down a fence panel to get in.
This makes me mad. All the work we do to try to conserve and care for the place - and the huge effort the girls made to climb the Shaft last week - and now this mindless thuggery means we, and/or DDC are left with hundreds of pounds of damage to repair.
Maybe we should pack up?
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
this is another of those mindless vandals
its sad so sad
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Please dont Phil , is there anything we can do to help ?
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
maybe similar thoughts to tram shelter?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
I just don't know what one can do Sarah. The Police could have at least administered a caution in this case - Paul wisely didn't confront them directly due to compromising his own safety and simply that he dared not photograph or say anything to an under 18 year old any more for fear of being on the wrong side of the law himself.
All one can do is keep checking and reporting everything I suppose. Not that it does any good.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
Phil, do not give in mate that just lets the vandals win. We sometimes have problems with vandals at the Mill (not as bad as that though) and I know it is so frustrating when volunteers give up their time to keep things going.
What I am sure is even more frustrating is when the police say they cannot do anything to support you and the mindless idiots get off scot free. .
Anyway keep the faith Phil.
I agree with your thoughts re a caution , we could write and complain to the local Inspector so any further events get treated more formally , if possible .
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
This needs a front page on the local paper. Kids will brag about it and someone will know eventually who they were.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Oh Dear!! How awful, why on earth does this kind of thing happen to such good people and hard workers, how are these kids brought up with no respect for others
Thank goodness Scotchie was not hurt.
Guest 730- Registered: 5 Nov 2011
- Posts: 221
Yes, make sure it gets in the paper. What a contrast between those three girls and the mindless vandals that did this.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
I heard the news from Paul earlier, thank heavens he wasn't injured, it's really shocking after all the volunteers hard work.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Thanks Colin. We're just talking to the girls on Facebook about this as I type. They are quite shocked, upset and disgusted. The twins are not long back themselves from shovelling out and clearing a gun room today and are lovely hard-working and dedicated girls. It seems we have had the very best and the very worst of their generation in the Shaft today.
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
Little treasures, old enough to know right from wrong but to young to take the punishment for it from the law,kids like that are a great form of contraception. they would put you off having children for life if you saw their antics, if they were mine and I found out what happend they would have been bounced off all four wall's and the ceiling,and then made to repair the damage.
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
pity paul did not take any photos of the miscreants, he must have taken photos of the damage though.
could they be sent to paulb so that they are in the public domain quickly so that any parents looking in can then ask where there children were this afternoon?
speed is of the essence as someone will be bragging in the playground tomorrow, first day back.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Good idea Howard. I'll see what we can do.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the nearest housing is at aycliffe, maybe our supersleuths brian, chris and stewart could make enquiries?
on any estate there is a small number that get up to such stunts. could be narrowed down very quickly.
hopefully paul can give some sort of descriptions.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Message from Paul for you:
""Thanks all - sadly i didn't get any photos of the 'suspects' as I wasn't going to risk photographing minors and ending up in trouble myself !! I did take a couple of snaps of the damage with my phone, but nothing came out any good to use unfortunately. After shifting tons of rubble at the fort today, and up an down all three staircases with the police, I needed to get away!!"
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
And another from Paul:
"last update for now !! The PC did catch up with them in town and got their details and will be speaking to them and their parents.... they may think twice if they are in the same situation again......"
Thank you Phil , hopefully that may do some good , but its heartbreaking considering the Girls fundraising efforts an all the good will and hardwork evident today
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
You need PRIVATE security Phil.
Details and addresses are not needed.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.