On a weekly basis since the start of the latest school term, groups of young people, staff say, are scaling the perimeter fence and damaging children’s play equipment and leaving rubbish and cigarette ends inside the Communicare Pre-School. The facility is non-profit making and has been running since 1976.
Pre-school manager Sue Paul said issues have been taking place on and off since last summer, but are now happening with more frequency.
‘The first incident in 2018 was the most serious. A group of youngsters got in and found a hose pipe and shoved it in a storage shed in the garden and switched the water on. This was on a Friday or Saturday and we did not find out for a few days until a member of staff walked by and thought “what on earth is all this water”,’ she said. ‘The whole place was flooded but luckily it was outside furniture.’
That incident was reported to the States police.
Mrs Paul said more recently the damage has amounted to petty vandalism – windows broken on a wooden play house that was paid for by parents as a thank you gift, litter and cigarettes left everywhere and children’s toys thrown about.
She is now urging neighbours, parishioners or passers-by who see anything suspicious to report it to the States or honorary police. ‘We really need this to stop,’ she said. ‘The garden is secure. It’s barred and bolted but they are scaling the perimeter fence. I think one climbs over and then lets their friends in,’ she added.
Mrs Paul said the honorary police have been informed as have local schools including Les Quennevais and the neighbouring youth club.
Last Wednesday a member of staff caught a group of teenagers inside the garden. They had moved a garden table inside a wooden play house and had left a lighter and pouch of tobacco on the table.
‘We don’t know who is responsible or if they are from the area, but if they were children who maybe came through this pre-school we’d like them to think how they would feel if their toys and play area were being damaged all the time,’ said Mrs Paul.
