Vandalism etc.

[Andy Hamilton]

and moving swiftly back to the vandals...

We have had trouble with vandals too, in fact I lost all my pumpkins one year to them. since then whenever I went back to my allotment I had a bit of dread, wondering if they had returned. It was probally teenagers I imagine.

I can totally understand where stew (muddypaws) is coming from with rites of passage theory. I was slowly coming to similar conclusions myself. Perhaps vandalism is more about empowerment? As a teenager you become more aware of all the things that you can't do until you are 16 or 18 or in the states 21. - So what do you with a society that 'cages' you, why you fight against it in the only way available - breaking stuff.

Not really coming up with a method to combat it, just another reason that it goes on.

[diver]

we've just had a lot of vandalism at our lotie. We knew which school the kids came from as we recognised the uniforms. I rang the headteacher and complained and he immediately sent the head of pupil services over to the allotments to see us. eventually the kids were identified and they admitted it and were "dealt with in school"" whatever that means. The person whose shed was ruined and whose tree was burnt down is going to the school and to the police.
We have found that good relationships with the community police constable and local community groups help a little but for the real vandals there is no hope.