Headteacher pleads with vandals (From News Shopper)

Headteacher pleads with vandals

9:51am Wednesday 23rd May 2007 in

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A HEADTEACHER is appealing for yobs to stop attacking her school and upsetting the pupils.

Green Street Green Primary School is being targeted by vandals who climb over the fence and spray graffiti, smash windows or push picnic tables into the pond.

Headteacher Barbara Grandi says there are incidents about once a fortnight and they have been taking place for the past three years.

In the latest incident, last weekend, many of the picnic tables, a PE shed and a boiler room were sprayed with graffiti, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Now Ms Grandi believes making the site less accessible and more enclosed by putting up a bigger fence could be the only answer to stop yobs getting into the school grounds.

She said: "We are looking at increasing the size of the fence.

"It is very sad we are going to have to enclose the children more and we will try to get the most unobtrusive fence we can."

Neighbours look out for trouble and the police visit the school in Vine Road, Green Street Green, out of hours, but these efforts have not stopped the incidents.

Speaking about the most recent attack late on Saturday or early on Sunday, Ms Grandi said: "It is depressing to think youngsters would want to do that.

"There has been CCTV on the site for a few weeks but they have their hoods up and know where the cameras are, so it is no use.

"The pupils get very sad and I am hoping the culprits might see how upsetting it is for them.

"We are pretty certain because of the number of people who have seen them that they are between 12 and 15.

"It is very upsetting for those concerned and it is not just a bit of fun. I hope the parents of those who do it will stop them and the people will stop doing it."

A Bromley police spokesman said: "The Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom Safer Neighbourhood Team are aware of ongoing issues of criminal damage at the location and are working to identify the perpetrators.

"Anyone with any information should contact the team on 07920 233 857 or 020 8721 2605."