It is damage such as this to the playground fence at Saumarez Park that police hope their extra patrols will prevent.

DEDICATED police patrols will try to combat problems with anti-social behaviour and vandalism during the school Easter holiday.

Chief Inspector Ruari Hardy said damage that was caused recently to the fence surrounding the children’s play area in Saumarez Park was an example of the sort of behaviour they want to stop. Uprights were broken from the cross members, leaving gaps in the wooden surround.

‘Now you have young children playing there who could get out through the holes and into the car park,’ said CI Hardy. ‘It’s pretty irresponsible stuff. There is a minority who think that this type of behaviour is clever, but let me reassure them that it is criminal and we will do our best to investigate and prevent this type of offending.’