The Pirate Ship at Jarvis Field Play Area in Stalbridge has been vandalised, resulting in the remaining structure being unsafe to use. The ship has been dismantled and removed from the park in order to see if it can be repaired and re-instated at a later date. This was not a measure taken lightly. After the vandalism the structure was left with sharp exposed screws poking out of the structure and sharp pieces of metal still attached to the mast after the flag had been wrenched from it. The main structure of the ship and its seating had been wrenched apart with some consistent force. These play structures are built to high standards, but the pirate ship was subject to a sustained period of deliberate and forceful vandalism, which has resulted the extreme damage that left the structure unsafe and dangerous to play on. The Council have been in conversation with Dorset Police concerning this and several other incidents of vandalism in the last few weeks. A statement from them reads: "Over the last week or so there have a been a number of ASB (antisocial behaviour) incidents these include the following; play equipment in Jarvis Field was damaged the pirate ship was dismantled and screws were placed into the seating area- this occurred on Saturday, sleepers were removed from around the tunnel and banners were slashed. Other incidents include road signage in Lower Road and Station Road were dismantled and removed, fires in the dug out Park Grove playing fields and town council equipment being thrown around and the bins being accessed at the village hall. This type of behaviour is unusual for Stalbridge. Do you know what your kids are up to? Please report incidences of Anti-social Behaviour via 101 or report on line via the Dorset Police website".
some of the screw heads left exposed after the vandalism
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sharp edges remained after the flag was wrenched from the mast
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