Police investigate vandalism at Meriden camp battling Gypsy site

From the Birmingham Mail

VILLAGERS fighting an Gypsy site in Meriden have had their long-running protest camp vandalised – days after complaining about rising crime.

Furious members of Residents Against Inappropriate Development said their brazier was damaged and firewood strewn all over the adjacent Eaves Green Lane in the overnight attack.

Police have confirmed they were investigating the incident which took place on a rare occasion when the camp was unattended.

Campaigners built the shelter in the lane to counter the Gypsy camp, set up in a nearby field in May 2010.

After a High Court wrangle, the Travellers have been given until next March to leave.

David McGrath, chairman of RAID, said no-one was on duty at the camp at the time due to sickness.

The attack came just days after villagers claimed they had seen rising crime in the community – including ten burglaries and two attacks on power lines – at a public meeting with police.

Mr McGrath said of the RAID camp vandalism: “This is outrageous and unacceptable. The police went to a lot of trouble to install a CCTV facility in the Lane but have never switched it on owing – we believe – to objections from the Travellers.

“If the camera was on, this and other events would be there for all to see. The police attendance at incidents has been good but we need preventative action too and we believe that the camera would help.

“Even when we submitted a petition by 200 people calling on the police and council’s Community Safety Partnership to take action we were told that nothing would be done. This is political correctness gone mad and our right to protection and security is as valid as anyone else’s rights.”

But a report presented to the borough’s cabinet this month by Solihull Council community safety manager Gillian Magee stated Gypsies in Meriden were sometimes the victims of attacks.

She wrote: “The police have had 49 calls for service since April 30, 2010, relating to different types of anti-social behaviour and crimes in this area – not all relate to allegations against occupants of the Travellers’ site. A number of these reports relate to the victimisation of the occupants of the Travellers’ site.”

The report concluded: “The surveillance cameras have certain limitations and it is not felt that they would add anything to the police processes for handling anti-social behaviour and crime in this area at this point in time.”

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said yesterday: “We are investigating the incident.”