A WEST Devon parish is battling to stop its levels of vandalism soaring out of control by issuing a £100 reward for information to catch the culprits. There are serious fears that vandal attacks are now putting lives in Bere Alston at risk after rubbish bags near elderly flats were set alight on Sunday, the latest in a spate of arson incidents. After months of damage to public and private property Bere Alston Parish Council, frustrated by a lack of police cover, is offering the reward in a bid to stop the trend. Cllr Brian Lamb said the situation was horrendous: ?There is a pure breakdown in law and order involving some young people in Bere Alston and there does not seem to be everything anyone can do about it.? Cllr Bev Slaughter said windows in the council chamber had been smashed, the youth shelter in the park had been destroyed and the playgroup?s lock-up store had been damaged. In the last few weeks tyres on private vehicles had been slashed, including those owned by firefighters attending a call, and several fires had been started involving rubbish bags. The parish council has paid out bills amounting to more than £10,000 for the damage and is at the end of its tether. ?We have written letters to the Chief Constable and our MP saying we need better police cover because our community constable keeps being taken away to deal with duties elsewhere,? said Mr Slaughter. ?The £100 reward is to bring these vandals to justice.? Bere Alston fire officer Colin Shaw is equally concerned after the fire near Langman Court on Sunday. ?The rubbish bags were underneath an archway where there is property above,? he said. ?If the fire had been left to burn it could have had much more dangerous implications and that is a big concern.? Marion Gray who runs the local post office said people were living in fear: ?This village is turning into a no-go zone,? she said. ?There may not be enough things for youngsters to do in terms of clubs and societies but things that are provided for them like the shelter they vandalise anyway.? With more than 3,000 residents, Mrs Gray said Bere Alston was now more of a small town then a village and needed a dedicated policeman. ?Slashing tyres is just the tip of the iceberg ? it will be someone getting hurt next,? she said. If anyone has information that could help the police they should contact the parish council offices on 01822 840748 or Neighbourhood Beat Manager PC Rick Hartigan on 08452 777444. PC Hartigan said there had been a lot of reports of petty vandalism and damage to vehicles but that had to be put into perspective with violent crime in and around Tavistock. ?The level of crime has actually dropped since October/November,? he said. ?There were nine vehicles damaged over one weekend but there have only been three other crimes in February. ?The detection rate in Bere Alston is quite high compared to other places but it is not helped when incidents are not reported to us at the time ? as in the case of Sunday?s fire. There is also a fear of reprisals in the village so people are not prepared to come forward as witnesses.? ?As always it is half a dozen people who spoil it for the rest.?
