FIVE youths have been cautioned by police in the past month after a spate of crime in Warminster Town Park.

On Wednesday, November 9 the town council’s CCTV team spotted five teenagers in the park causing damage to play equipment and alerted direct services supervisor Stewart Legg, who looks after the park.

Mr Legg then approached the youths and talked to them until the police arrived and arrested them.

The teenagers were issued with youth cautions by the police and one was made to repaint graffiti which had been sprayed by them.

Mr Legg said: “It’s important that all graffiti is covered up as soon as possible as it sends the message that it’s not okay.

“It takes courage to be the first person to spray graffiti but if a wall is already covered in it, others think it is okay to add their own tags.

“Our aim over the coming weeks is to improve the park’s lighting and get more people using it to discourage people from spraying graffiti and causing vandalism.”

Last week a fire was started in the park which left scorch marks and ashes on the ground and the main door to the community centre was also damaged, leaving an indentation.

Community policing coordinator PCSO Lorraine Rice said: “Local officers are aware of a recent increase in anti-social behaviour within the area and have increased their high visibility patrols.

“Most recently this has resulted in five youths being dealt with for offences of criminal damage whereby graffiti has been painted onto equipment.”