Off duty policeman 'ran into action' to chase youths after Forest Town sports pavilion vandalism

According to Mansfield Police, who have responsibility for policing Forest Town, Woodhouse, Berry Hill and surrounding areas,

the unnamed officer was walking in Queen’s Way Park, Forest Town, at around 3.20pm, on Wednesday, September 16.

Reporting the crime on their Facebook page on Saturday, the police said the officer had noticed a group of youths allegedly causing damage to the roof of a bowling club pavilion.

Just as uniformed officers arrived on the scene, the group had fled in different directions but the off-duty officer had then pursued three people across the park.

Some damage was reported to the roof of the building and two boys, aged 16 and 14, were later arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

The police say they were later released on bail.

Inspector Nick Butler, district commander for Mansfield, said: “As a police officer you are always part of a bigger team, whether you are on or off duty.

"On this occasion, the officer spotted a suspected case of criminal damage and he wasted no time in getting involved and backing up his colleagues. My thanks go to him and to everyone else involved in these arrests.

“Vandalism is a corrosive form of offending that results not only in damage to property, but also to our wider communities. It will not be tolerated in Mansfield or anywhere else in Nottinghamshire.”