86 windows smashed by vandals in single night

Published on Thursday 4 September 2008 09:44

A COMMUNITY centre has been left under siege by vandals who have smashed windows every weekend for months.

Management at the Craigentinny Community Centre fear the constant bills for repairing the damage will threaten the future of services it provides for the young and elderly.

Centre vice-chairman Giacomo Modica estimates there have been just three or four weekends since Easter when no windows were broken.

On the worst occasion, August 11, police say a total of 86 windows were smashed, 66 at the community centre and a further 20 in the door panels of the social work department at the site. The damage continued this weekend, when a further 16 were broken.

The continuing repairs mean the costs are racking up, with Edinburgh City Council estimating the bill to date at 5500.

Mr Modica, who is also chairman of the Craigentinny and Meadowbank Community Centre, said: "On one occasion we actually saw the youths coming into the grounds on CCTV, one with a hammer and one with a crowbar, so they're actually coming in to do it.

"We've got CCTV but it's very antiquated. Unless you see their faces during the daylight it's really bad, so we can't identify the youths. We've been asking for quite some time for new CCTV with infrared."

He said he feared the cost of repairs could come off the centre's budget: "That means that to balance ourselves off we might have to reduce some of the services which could affect youth work, senior citizens and other community groups that use the centre."

Linda Brown's children Luke, six, and Cody, 11, use the centre, which is attached to Craigentinny Castle, on a regular basis. She said: "We're angry to say the least. It's happening constantly and with it being attached to the old castle, I don't know if we can fit any kind of grilles."

The self-employed book-keeper said: "They've a Spanish playgroup on a Saturday morning and a primary one to primary three youth club and they have to avoid certain areas of the building when this has happened.

"I think most of the people doing it aren't even from this area, they come here because they'll get away from being watched. What do you do? You don't want it like a fortress but it's going to have to be."

Ms Brown, 44, added: "The police are not even trying to move them on. It's lack of policing and it's also down to the fact that the community wardens that we fought hard to get are now based at Craigmillar and we don't see them."

A council spokeswoman said: "Security and protecting our buildings and their occupants is one of our key priorities when considering allocation of funding from the capital programme.

"Officers are in the process of liaising with the centre to try to find a solution to this issue."

A police spokeswoman was unable to comment on the issue of policing levels or community wardens, but said: "This does seem to be a repeat problem, so we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."