Dispersal order in St Nicholas Park amid robbery reports...

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Police are investigating reports of robbery, possession of weapons and criminal damage



Police have put in place a dispersal order at a Warwick park after recent disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Officers said they had received reports over the past few days about a group "causing significant harassment, alarm and distress" to people in St Nicholas Park and the surrounding area.

"Police are investigating a number of reports of robbery, possession of weapons and criminal damage believed to be linked to the group," the Warwickshire force explained.

The order, which runs until 22:00 BST on 13 August, gives officers the power to tell groups to leave the area and not return or face arrest.

Insp Jem Mountford, head of neighbourhood policing in the district, said the group's actions would not be tolerated.

"We will not hesitate to use these powers," he said.

"We have increased our presence in the area, and on top of our ongoing investigations, we feel this move is necessary to address local concerns and give us the power to deal with those we believe to be responsible.”

Anyone with information that could help police inquiries was asked to contact the force.

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Could they be any more vague?

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Residents demand more CCTV in 'problem' park



Regular users of a town park want more CCTV cameras to be installed to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Residents of Warwick have called a public meeting with council officers to try to resolve the issues in and around St Nicholas Park, which, they say, have been blighting the site.

One resident told the BBC her son felt too scared to go out after he had his jaw broken in an unprovoked attack.

Warwickshire Police said it was aware of concerns and had a problem-solving plan in place.

Resident Dale Fittes [pictured], whose home is near the park, says he has had to endure problems there for 25 years.

"People [are] coming in with cars and motorbikes, racing around in what is basically a public space where there are people walking and enjoying themselves," he said.

"We've seen fires being set in the copse at the back of where we live and we've had damage to property in the area, back gates being kicked in and so on."

Those living near the site said they had reported their concerns to local councillors and police but did not think enough was being done in response.

"One of the things we've asked for is CCTV cameras to be installed," Mr Fittes said.

"The other thing we'd like to see is patrols by either council wardens or police. These are happening on a fairly infrequent basis so we'd like to see those stepped up."

The Friends of St Nicholas Park group has asked officers from Warwickshire County Council to attend a public meeting to see what can be done to keep park users safe.

The council said it was always open to meeting residents to discuss any concerns, adding the authority had been liaising with partners including the police and Warwick District Council which, it said, had done a lot of work over the past few years to address concerns.

CCTV is among the topics set to be addressed.

Calls for more cameras are being backed by a resident whose son had his jaw broken while he was walking through the park in daylight in April.

"He was approached by a gang of youths who followed him, calling him a different name. He turned around and said 'I'm not whoever it is' and tried to walk off," she said.

"They threatened to stab him and then, as he tried to leave, he was assaulted from behind and punched in the face. They broke his jaw and he's had to have a plate inserted.

"It's shattered his confidence. He's just started college, and he struggled to go back to college, he's struggling to go out, struggling to socialise, and doesn't feel safe."

Ch Insp Simon Ryan said: "A thorough investigation was carried out into the incident involving the teenage boy but it was filed due to evidential difficulties, but the force would be willing to review, he added, if new evidence came to light."