A CCTV camera designed to catch yobs in Blagdon Park, New Malden, has not been working for most of the summer, it has been revealed.
The repair of the camera was one of the measures agreed earlier this summer to deal with problems in the park.
As a result, the chance to catch the culprits in at least two incidents was missed, it was claimed at the Maldens and Coombe neighbourhood committee on Wednesday evening.
On top of the CCTV problems, a sign warning troublemakers the park was being monitored on camera and the removal of two bushes to make the park more open were also delayed.
Councillor Mary Clark said the fire brigade was called to bins set on fire on August 11, and on September 11 a group of loud drinkers had gathered near the benches.
She said: “If the CCTV had been working it would have identified the culprits.
“We are now four months down the line and nothing has been done. The police have done their bit and tried to patrol as best as they can.”
Marion Todd, Safer Kingston partnership manager, said some of the measures had been delayed until the committee made a decision on whether or not to remove the benches.
She said: “I can only apologise for the CCTV. Our CCTV manager was told in good faith it was working.”
Hannah Rees, Kingston Council’s neighbourhood manager, said: “I am assured that as of September 16 it is now working again. They [the signs] went in today and it took too long and I’m aware it is not good enough.”
Earlier in the meeting, resident Julian McCarthy, who lives in Blagdon Road, said even if the CCTV had been working, it was hidden behind foliage.
Asking the council to remove the benches, he said they attracted people under the influence of alcohol or those who intended being so, as well as encouraging people to leave urinate on the wall.
Children and elderly people were being woken up by the raised voices of people sitting on the benches at night and then being subjected to their foul language, he said.
Mr McCarthy said: “The negative effects outweigh the positives. We would respectfully request the benches be removed forthwith.”
The meeting agreed to remove benches and place them 100 yards down the road, between Lidl and Vineyard, to give neighbours a rest, despite police finding no evidence of antisocial behaviour at the benches during their late-night patrols.
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