Cricket clubs in Bradford district hit by steady rise in crime at their grounds

With the new season just around the corner, the latest police statistics show there has been a rise from 27 crimes in 2015, to 32 in 2017.

Released under Freedom of Information rules, the data covers break-ins, vandalism and arson attacks at cricket grounds across the Bradford district.

Over the three years, there were a total of 89 incidents, with some clubs being hit multiple times.

Bradford Premier Cricket League chairman, David Young said the organisation was aware of an increase in incidents of crime at cricket clubs across the district, particularly break-ins and vandalism.

He said: “Whenever we are made aware of an incident at one of the clubs in the league, such as vandalism, we do send an email round to all clubs.

“But we do tend to see more crime at cricket clubs in the March and April period just before the season starts again, usually break-ins and theft of equipment.”

Chief Inspector Kevin Pickles, said: “Sports clubs are a valuable asset to their local communities and officers in Bradford District work closely with other West Yorkshire Police resources and partners in their neighbourhood policing areas to identify and take action against those suspected of being involved in crime and anti-social behaviour. Any sports clubs who would like help with crime prevention are asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team for further advice.”

The top five crime-hit clubs over the three years were Idle Cricket Club (12 incidents), Saltaire Cricket Club (eight incidents), Coach Road Cricket Ground in Baildon (eight incidents), Clayton Cricket Club (five incidents), and Buttershaw St Paul’s Cricket Club (five incidents).

Idle Cricket Club, which announced its resignation from the Bradford Cricket League at the end of last year for financial reasons, was subjected to a spate of break-ins and vandalism attacks during the off season over the winter of 2015 to 2016.

Committee member Graham Kemp said the incidents in quick succession had led to three insurance claims and a hike in premiums.

One particular incident, in March 2016, left bosses at the club facing a massive repair bill after vandals drove onto the pitch causing deep ruts in the grass.

At the time, club officials feared they would not be able to play at home that season. Mr Kemp said there had even been another break-in as recently as a week ago, where one of the large windows at the clubhouse was smashed.

“They caused a lot of damage,” he said. “It looks like they have broken down the doors with a sledgehammer. They ended up damaging the till, ripping down optics and taking a TV, but they didn’t get any money though.

“The clubhouse is a big target.”

According to the statistics, Saltaire Cricket Club was hit by a total of eight incidents in the three year period, with five separate vandalism incidents in the space of a month last year.

Simon Hicks, from the club, said the fact that the club’s ground was within Roberts Park made it more vulnerable to certain types of incidents, but luckily they had not been hit by any serious vandalism or damage in recent years, he added. He said: “There has not been any targeting of the scoreboard, pavilion and Half Moon Cafe recently. There was an issue in May last year with youths gathering and anti-social behaviour generally. It’s hard for cricket clubs when people put in many hours to maintain facilities, and this hard work can be ruined by a thoughtless act.”

He said that in the past the club’s pavilion had been regularly sprayed with graffiti, but they simply repainted it white each time, and it had been a question of “who gave up first”.

Clayton Cricket Club was hit by up to £2,000 worth of damage in December, when vandals kicked down wooden railings, as well as damaging stone pillars and wooden benches. At the time, chairman of the club, Howard Stead, said it was the first time the club had suffered vandalism to this extent.

Out of 89 incidents across the three years in question, there were 51 burglaries, 37 incidents of criminal damage and one arson attack.