Anger after vandals target bus shelter in Sandwich
14:05, 17 August 2022
updated: 14:06, 17 August 2022
Glass was left covering the pavement after a bus shelter was targeted by vandals on two consecutive nights.
Windows of the stand in St Barts Road, Sandwich, were smashed on Sunday night.
Four out of six panels of the shelter were broken, leaving piles of shattered glass on the road.
Cllr Dean Marie (Con), of Sandwich Town Council, said the hazardous glass was cleaned up, but the shelter was targeted the following night.
Cllr Marie said: “They came back the following night and tried to break the rest of the glass but were challenged by a resident and ran off this time.
“There is CCTV evidence which has been sent to the police.
“I felt quite upset that this anti-social behaviour was occurring in Sandwich as we have a low crime rate in town and it was residents who alerted me to the incident.”
Cllr Dan Friend (Con), also of Sandwich Town Council, reported the incident to the Dover community safety unit and said anti-social behaviour is very low in Sandwich, making instances all the more prominent and upsetting for residents.
“I was extremely disappointed to see the bus shelter in St Barts Road damaged yet again,” he said.
“I have been working with Dover District Council's community safety unit and police to monitor the situation in conjunction with the local schools' police officer to identify the perpetrators caught on a resident's private CCTV.”
One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said they feel the lack of police presence in the “small, sleepy town” increases the risk on vandalism like this happening.
“I almost never see any police in Sandwich unless something has happened and they’re usually called from Margate or Thanet I believe,” they said.
“I guess because Sandwich is a small, sleepy town, there were huge police cuts nationwide a few years ago and Sandwich is a low risk area, so things like this will happen."
Councillors are now encouraging residents to report vandalism to police.
Cllr Marie added: “I advise anyone who sees any crime happening in Sandwich to report it to the police online or through the 101 number, or 999 if there is an emergency."
Kent Police have been contacted for a comment.