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Villagers demand more police action to tackle vandalism and disturbances in Bransgore and Thorney Hill




PROMISES of extra CCTV were made as villagers called for more police action to combat anti-social behaviour and vandalism plaguing Bransgore and Thorney Hill.

Dozens of residents packed Bransgore Community Church in Shackleton Square on Tuesday night for the week’s second public meeting with local officers.

As reported in the A&T, ball bearings fired at buildings and vehicles from catapults have been among recent disturbances.

Insp. Darren Ord faced questions from villagers at Bransgore Community Church in Shackleton Square
Insp. Darren Ord faced questions from villagers at Bransgore Community Church in Shackleton Square

Some welcomed a “long overdue” response including arrests and the impending deployment of two cameras.

But a Thorney Hill resident, whose car has been shot at multiple times, felt that area was “forgotten”.

Police activated a 48-hour dispersal order last Monday morning after incidents culminated in alleged damage and assault at Co-op in Betsy Lane.

This was followed by four consecutive day and night patrols by officers including PCSO Tracey Cooper and PC Karla Hanley.

Insp. Darren Ord told the meeting that reported offences fell following some arrests but investigations were continuing.

Brian Byrne, New Forest District Council’s service manager for housing, community safety and CCTV, announced impending cameras at two undisclosed locations.

But Thorney Hill resident Caroline Rainger was appalled to hear none were currently planned in her neighbourhood.

“We’ll just wait till someone dies, shall we?” she said.

Ms Rainger told the A&T after the meeting that her and her daughter’s Land Rovers had their windscreen and rear windows shot out.

“I was driving past Whitelands picking my daughter up from work and got shot at in a separate incident, denting the bodywork,” she said.

“Every morning I wake up thinking, is my car okay? Am I going to miss work because of my car? It’s terrifying.

Disturbances included alleged assault and damage at the Co-op on Betsy Lane
Disturbances included alleged assault and damage at the Co-op on Betsy Lane

“I’ve been in Thorney Hill for 17 years and there’ve been problems all that time but nothing’s done about it. We’ve been completely forgotten about.”

Mr Byrne said he would pursue residents’ calls for more lighting at the Betsy Lane NFDC car park but made no promises.

A resident was annoyed no action was taken after a neighbour’s camper van was raided, despite clear CCTV footage.

“These are all people who work to earn a living and pay council tax, and what do we get for it? We get fobbed off,” she said.

Hoping improvements were seen recently, Insp. Ord said: “None of my officers want to go out and not detect crime.”

One resident took issue with vandalism being classed as less serious than assaults.

“Listening to harrowing accounts of ball bearings, it seems just a matter of luck that it wasn’t more physical.”

Insp. Ord agreed: “There were children behind those windows and people in those cars, so it could have been much worse.

“Offences are measured against the threat of harm, and the number of incidents raises the threat of harm for me.”

Bransgore resident John Harris was pleased police were taking action but felt it should have been sooner.

“All you need is for a little kid to get hit by one of these ball bearings and they won’t survive,” he told the A&T.

Parish councillor and residents’ association chair John Spinks previously called for extra CCTV to tackle disturbances.

“I’m very pleased by the response from the police and NFDC,” he said.



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