Environment Department - 08/04/2010

The Environment Department is appealing for information on vandals who used bolt cutters to put several pieces of playground equipment in the Saumarez Park playground out of action last night (Wednesday 7th April).

Galvanised chains and shackles were targeted and cut clean through. Damaged equipment included the aerial runway, wooden bridges, and a steel core rope net. The unkindest act was the damage done to the ‘Joe 90’ swing. This is a recently installed full support swing which was provided through sponsorship by the Wigwam support group for children with disabilities.

The damage was discovered by the States Works - Parks and Gardens staff at 08.00 am on 8th April when the playground was cleaned.

The staff of the Environment Department, who are responsible for the management of Saumarez Park, are so incensed at the damage, particularly to the new swing for children with special needs, that they have personally raised a fund for a reward for anyone offering information which leads to the prosecution of the person or persons responsible.

An Environment Department Spokesperson said: "This was a particularly malicious and dangerous act by someone who deliberately went into the playground with the tools to do this type of damage. It was fortunate that the Parks and Gardens staff were vigilant and able to alert the Environment Department to the damage before children started arriving at the Park. The special needs swing is the most difficult to repair, it will be greatly missed by the children but we’ll do our best to get it back in action. Several pieces of equipment have been taken out of use for repairs and whilst the playground remains open this incident is particularly sad during the last few days of the school holidays. We’d appeal to anyone who has information which can identify who is responsible to contact the Police so that the perpetrator can be brought to justice. It is of grave concern that anyone should go equipped to do this type of damage which could so easily have put young children at risk of injury."

Anyone who has any information on people responsible for the damage is asked to contact the Police as soon as possible, Tel: 725111, or leave a message on the Guernsey Crimestoppers number: 0800 555 111.

Contact information

Jan Dockerill
Environmental Services Officer (Communications)
Environment Department
Tel: 717200