CONCERNS have been raised about the lack of police presence in Okehampton after an increase of incidents of anti-social and threatening behaviour in Simmons Park over the last few weeks.

Parents say they have been in touch with the police regarding reports of gangs threatening their children and committing acts of violence.

In the latest incident on Saturday night (October 15) while the carnival was taking place in the town, it was alleged that two 11-year-old girls were threatened with rape by a group of teenagers, including one wearing a mask.

Other incidents reported by parents include a young girl being physically attacked in the park by a large group of females, as well as a boy being chased and beaten by a gang of youths while he was playing Pokémon Go.

Father-of-three Sean Sandercock is so concerned that he set up the Facebook page ‘Simmons Park Police/Parent Patrol’ to try and get something done.

‘I feel that there is no protection given from the police and little protection regarding the safety of our children. I feel there is no or very little presence from the police regarding patrolling the park.

‘On carnival night — the busiest night of the year — I didn’t see an officer in sight. This is shocking and unacceptable.

‘Too many incidents are happening in Simmons Park, where a lot of kids are to afraid to go there in fear of bullying and anti-social behaviour. I have been made aware of a number of incidents where young people have been verbally abused and even physically attacked by large groups. The anti-social behaviour is a real crisis in the town.

‘I have been told about four serious incidents that have happened in the past six weeks, the anti-social behaviour is a serious issue that needs addressing! We need more policing and CCTV in the park.’

Mr Sandercock said the Facebook group aimed to rally residents who shared similar concerns: ‘I created the Facebook page to get as many parents on board so I can take this issue further,’ he said.

’I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received. All the support has given me the strength to take this issue further. I will be getting in contact with councillors as well as the police to try and get this sorted. Everyone has the right to use the park and feel safe in their town.’

West Devon police sergeant Dave Anning stressed that the incident involving the 11-year-old girls was very unusual and he had never heard of anything like that happening in the park before.

‘If we can get a description we would love to hear from the people concerned,’ he said. ’We understand that one of them was wearing a mask and, if so, this does bear some similarities to the “Killer Clown” craze incidents. We would like to remind people that causing harassment, alarm or distress is an offence.’

Sgt Anning said there were no dedicated police officers at Okehampton Carnival but the normal response officers were available. A police officer did attend Okehampton on Saturday from Whiddon Down following a report of the two girls being threatened.

He said that although events that attracted a large number of people involved an element of risk as far as criminal activities were concerned, based on historical information Okehampton Carnival was a low-risk event.

‘We would love to have PCSOs and police officers at a public event like this but at the moment we only have one PCSO at Okehampton, we should have five,’ he said. ‘The PSCO was sent to Tavistock to cover Goose Fair because it is seen as a higher risk event.’

He said that a force support group of police officers was due to be on duty last weekend in West Devon to provide back-up for Goose Fair and Okehampton Carnival but it was deployed to an incident elsewhere. He said it was a case of sending officers to where they were most needed at the time.

Sgt Anning said traditionally there had been regular patrols in Simmons Park because it had always been a place that attracted low level anti-social behaviour due to its proximity to Okehampton College. It was also where large groups of young people met.

He said generally there were two officers operating on each shift over the weekends and once more PCSOs were back on duty — one was on secondment to the 101 service and one was on a three-month career break — residents would see more of a police presence around town.

’One PCSO is doing a lot of work in the college and is conscious of the fact that Simmons Park needs patrolling on a more regular basis,’ he said.

Okehampton Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey said: ‘The town council is aware of anti-social behaviour in the park and is in the process of installing CCTV cameras. Details will be passed to the police for prosecution.

‘As for the police, they are obviously notified that the carnival is taking place and how they manage their staffing is at the discretion of the officer in charge.’

She said there were many more people attending Goose Fair and traditionally there had been very little trouble in the town on carnival night but one PCSO did seem a little inadequate.