Angry residents confront police

There has been a huge amount of criticism from villagers over the police response to the crimes, and residents of the Vale, where an £18,500 caravan was set on fire by yobs, even went as far as to write to Sara Thornton, the chief constable of Thames Valley Police.
At a meeting on Monday night held in the community centre, Chief Inspector Stuart Greenfield and Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Cherrington fielded questions from a group of around 50 residents.
Inspector Greenfield said: "Until recently, the Vale had not come into our radar well enough. Like any organisation, we do make mistakes but hopefully tonight we can try and rectify that. We understand that there have been many problems and you have a right to a better quality of life than that. I would like to work with you rather than argue with you to try and take things forward."
Residents complained that they never see police officers around the village and that there never seem to be any police in the village on Friday and Saturday nights when the trouble seems to happen.
Allan Murrell of the Vale, who owned the caravan that was set alight, said: "These incidents always happen after young people have been chucked out of all the pubs and clubs. At that time of night, all the police in the village seem to be tucked up in their beds."
Inspector Greenfield sympathised with the residents' plight, but said that there are not enough officers to ensure that the village is policed around the clock.
He said: "Sadly, the days of having bobbies on the beat are gone, but we now know about the problems in and around the Vale and will be trying to focus our attention on that area at the times when these problems occur."