Main Body of the Surrey Square Park Antisocial Behaviour

20200608 

Unfortunately some more  vandalism.

This time the entrance sign has been effaced.

The sexist and offensive graffiti has been scrawled with a spray can sometime in the last day or two.

This is just bu t an example of how our beloved park is encountering a wave of antisocial behaviour, with youth gangs using the ground as their own patch.

20200809

This year it seems that bad news follows bad news.

The main noticeboard of Surrey Square Park has been vandalised too.It seems that it was not enough for the one on the WildLife Area to have been broken three times and than set on fire, the other too needed to be cracked!! 

We are all at a loss to see this wave of antisocial behaviour sweeping  around our area.

We had a reasonable record for several years (of course we have never been a middle-class suburb but we were doing all right) but since last winter something has changed.

We had an influx of an undesirable cast of characters and the results are for all too see.

The Council and Policed seems unable to cope with it and most of the long term residents are simply frightened. We are reverting to the sort of ghetto the place was in the early 80's.

Exiting times indeed. 

We have let the Park Authorities know.

20200917

One of the acers has been damaged again (and a nearby sapling some time previously, it appears). The tree was part of a donation from one of the large developers in Elephant & Castle. Older, 3 years old saplings, that come with 3 years maintenance (watering, regular visit, etc) paid by the developer. 

The tree had already suffered from a dog attack, that damaged its bark, and probably the same individuals or young delinquent have again broken an healthy bough probably to tease a fighting dog to "append".

Our main problem is at this point, not so much  the identification of the miscreants but have something done about it.

They seems to get away over and over again and every time they return to their misdeeds, they are buoyed by the experience of been left unmolested and indeed to have intimidated anyone objecting to their behaviour.

Short of a change in the composition of the local population, one is  at a loss to think of what could be done!

20210203

Again and Again, the same people, actually three or for individuals, maybe part of  a couple of extended families, use their large dogs (or let their children) to ravage the vegetation of our beloved park.

Here a large rosebush an t the entrance of the Park, in front of the green flag pole, has been nearly destroyed.

Witnesses reckon they are the same individuals that a couple of night before have been seen urging their dogs to damage a tree on the back of Southborough House, in the neighbouring Kinglake Estate. 

Apparently a group of miscreants have noisily partied (in total disregard of the lock-down for the COVID-19 epidemic) all Tuesday the 3rd during the night at the park entrance and encouraged their dogs to destroy the rosebush.

This is what happens when an area is beyond law & order : it is taken over by bullies and criminal elements at the detriment of the rest of the community. 

20210423

The SSP sign at the main entrance from the kinglake estate side,  has been once again dubbed with paint (in addition to the panel on the warning signs chained at its base that has been kicked out).

I never understood the "satisfaction" one may derive from defacing a signpost. Surrey Square Park has have been suffering a fair share of this type of antisocial behaviour and unfortunately, I am sure it will not be the last time, this sort of incident will happen.

One can only hope that the responsible miscreants will one day be caught and sentenced to clean up all their mess.

20210530

Some more damage to the notice board.
The last time the plexiglass was shuttered it was substituted with a thicker one.
But again, it seems that vandals have no luck of perseverance.
The plexiglass has however lasted a bit longer, but it will have to be changed once again!!

20230502

Damage from dogs (actually their owners) chewing branches.

This time an elder, close to Albridge Street, was torn and used for the despicable custom to "hang the dog" and encourage the animal to attack the wood.
It is difficult to envisage the stupidity behind this uncivilised usage.
We only hope that the police or the Park Wardens will one day manage to catch these vile vandals. 

202304200

Again the noticeboard has been, this time, less severely, vandalised.

Some miscreant has sprayed some gang logo on it.

Fortunately, Council garden workers must have reported it and the board was cleared/washed in the next couple of days.
Difficult to imagine why whoever has done it,  wants to persist!!

20231115

Every few months, it seems, the noticeboard at the entrance of the Peter Martin Memorial Garden is subject to damage.
Partly is vandalism and partly is the position.

benches were placed nearby with the intention of making it a little square.
People could stay and enjoy our little park under the shade of nearby trees.
Unfortunately, sometimes, it works too well.

Teenagers group tend to linger there and fights occur.
For some reason banging people against the noticeboard seems a favourite way of setting disputes.

Increased police and Warden patrol are effective in lowering this antisocial behaviour but still...
It has been some time since the last instance of vandalism and let's hope that the trend continues and that these dispicable episodes become less and less frequent.
The Park Authorities have been contacted.