Rewards scheme to catch vandals

Up to £100 could be handed out from a council to anyone whose reports of loutish behaviour leads to police action.

Skipton Town Council's public amenities committee is being asked to back the proposal, put forward by chief officer Lis Moore, when it meets today.

And if the idea is adopted and is a success then it could be rolled out across the district with Bradford Council's environment chief expressing an interest.

Mrs Moore's idea was sparked when she learned of a similar scheme in the village of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.

The aim is to clamp down on vandalism at the eleven recreation grounds which are owned by Skipton Town Council.

Mrs Moore said: "We are looking at more innovative ways of trying to prevent this vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

"Skipton council has a zero-tolerance policy and if we do catch the little toads we will take action."

The new rules would apply to all the council's recreation grounds and include the Raikes Road closed burial site, the church yards at Holy Trinity and Christ Church and possibly the allotment areas.

Stacey Mitchell, Craven Council's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said she fully supported the initiative.

"If a conviction comes out of it, then it should be a deterrent. People should not think of it as snitching because these people are ruining it for everyone and giving young people a bad name."

Town councillor Polly English has been examining Bold Venture recreation ground in Skipton and watching council officer Ron Bowness making repairs to a damaged safety surface.

She said: "This proposal must be worth trying if it can stop vandalism. But we need witnesses and maybe this will encourage people to come forward."

And Bradford councillor Anne Hawkesworth, whose role includes responsibility for overseeing the district's parks, said the idea had some merit and she would make fellow members aware of the initiative.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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