SECURITY guards are patrolling Callington Community College at night to deter vandalism attacks on the premises. The college, which has suffered thousands of pounds of damage over the last two years, has become a target for vandals since crime shifted from the town centre to other parts of Callington Various initiatives were brought in to stop criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in Callington town centre including CCTV, dispersal orders, anti-social behaviour orders, increased police patrols and, more recently, the alcohol control order. But while these schemes have had an effect there is concern that crime has increased in other areas of Callington. Two years ago a group of youths went on the rampage and caused £26,000 worth of damage at the college, smashing windows and CCTV cameras, ripping up paving stones and throwing rocks and glass in the swimming pool. The young people, aged from 13 to 19, were sentenced by the court, but vandalism attacks continue at the college, including a more recent incident of arson. Headteacher Steve Kenning said: 'I have been here ten years and vandalism has always been a problem. Occasionally, you get a different group of people who are responsible and it is usually only five or six of them. 'Because of things like ASBOs, which ban people from the town centre, they come and hang around at the college. 'It is an ongoing nuisance with smashed windows, picnic tables damaged and bottles thrown on the site.' Mr Kenning said the police would respond when there an incident but the college was trying to take a proactive role to deter crime. 'It has cost us money to get a security firm in and it is a pity we have to do this. 'In the long term we are thinking of sectioning areas of the college. Unfortunately, it is just a handful of young people who have nothing else in life who are causing these problems.' Mr Kenning said he did not believe it was local youngsters but ones who had recently moved into the area. The security patrols are on site from 6pm each day. Police community support officer for Callington Mark Stribley agreed there had been a shift in crime from the town centre and the local parks to a certain extent but it was not presenting as big a problem elsewhere. He said: 'The level of incidents elsewhere are far fewer than those that used to occur in the town centre. 'The kids go to the college because it is out of the way. They go onto the all-weather pitch and Callington football ground where there are dug out shelters they use primarily for smoking cannabis.' The officer said he had been up there on three occasions but each time there was a 'star-burst' of youngsters who exited the site from a back entrance. More officers were needed if they had any hope of catching the culprits. With Callington soon to get its replacement neighbourhood beat manager and extra support officer, PCSO Stribley said more patrols of the school grounds would take place. 'I am not poo-pooing getting a security firm in, but I would suggest they need a point of contact with us in case a situation arises which they may be struggling to control,' he said.
