THE public are being urged to help crack down on vandalism in Tavistock. Newly-elected Conservative town councillor David Farrant wants residents to phone the police if they see acts of vandalism being committed. He told the town council last week that as a newly elected member, his street surgery was taken up with people who were worried about vandalism. Mr Farrant said: ?Vandalism clearly exists in Tavistock and we would be sensible to acknowledge this, rather than sweep it under the carpet.? He said that since April 2004, the direct cost to the town council of vandalism was £16,351. The police could only quote from statistics relating to reported incidents ? and he urged residents to phone 999 if they witnessed acts of vandalism. ?We will only get a true picture when residents report all acts of vandalism and get a crime report number. Then police statistics will reflect the actual level. ?If, as a lot of residents firmly believe, it is much higher than police statistics currently show, we will be able to make a case for more active participation by the police against vandalism in Tavistock.? Cllr Farrant said he would be ?quite happy? to hold surgeries in the council chamber for residents concerned by vandalism, which the police could also attend. Cllr Ted Sherrell said there was ?no excuse? for vandalism. He said: ?It?s plain criminality ? if you see somebody doing it, call 999, that?s what the police are for. ?We as a council can?t do a lot specifically, but we have a right as representatives of the people to expect the police to do something about it.? Cllr Mandy Govier said since the Crown Centre nightclub closed, there was a marked lack of police presence in Tavistock at night. ?I am aware of an incident on Bank Holiday Monday when a police car had to come from Plymouth because there were no police here to deal with it,? she said. ?When the Crown was open you used to see police all evening, but there?s nothing for people to do now when the pubs throw out ? people stay walking the streets until 3am. ?I?m almost saying the Crown prevented crime, because we had more police around then.? But Cllr Peter Jones said there was ?nothing new? about vandalism and it had been occuring in Tavistock and throughout the world for years: ?I think calling 999 and clogging up emergency calls is ridiculous. Vandalism is a thing nobody wants, but we have to keep it in context with everything else this council has to do ? there is very little we can do about social problems.? And Liberal Democrat Cllr Alison Clish-Green described petty vandalism ?a bit like dog fouling?. ?It?s totally unacceptable but how many people will give a name to the police, so they can follow it up?? Cllr Clish-Green suggested the public could use mobile phones to take photographic evidence to give to the authorities. Sgt Rachel McLellan of Tavistock Police told the Times that on occasion, support officers from Plymouth did get called out to Tavistock to deal with incidents. She said the number of officers on duty in the town was demand-based, but officers could call on extra support if required. ?The policy regarding 999 calls is quite clear,? said Sgt McLellan. ?If life is in danger or if offenders are on the scene or nearby and if you are witnessing an offence in progress, call 999 and you should get an immediate response. ?All other incidents should be reported on the 08452 777444 number.?
