Most dangerous park in Mansfield revealed

A request to the Police under the Freedom of Information act reveals the level of crime and anti-social behaviour at Mansfield’s public parks over the course of the year.

And while most parks yielded no results on the Police’s database, showing no reported crime for the year, others have been the centre for numerous crimes including reports of robbery, sexual assault and people carrying bladed weapons.

Last year 24 incidents were reported at Titchfield Park, making it the most unsafe in the area. The reports included two reports of theft, two of violence against a person, two reports of bladed weapons and five of anti-social behaviour.

There was also one sexual assault and one report of wildlife crime over the financial year 2015-16.

Fisher Lane Park, Spider Park and Yeoman Hill Park were also included in reports of some anti-social behaviour while all others showed no results, although police stressed that incidents may be logged without mention of the park.

This is the second year that Titchfield park tops the list - 29 offences in 2014-15 including seven violent incidents, one sexual assaults and nine reports of ASB.

Mansfield District Council or Mick Barton said: “We work closely with officers at Nottinghamshire Police to help keep our parks and open spaces safe.

“Later this month we will have greater power to tackle localised crime using the new Public Space Protection Order. We are also considering the option to extend the CCTV network to include a number of parks across the district.”

Inspector Nick Butler of Nottinghamshire Police said on the figures: “At certain times of the year we can see an increase in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour, for example due to the end of school term.

“However, we have a designated anti-social behaviour team which patrol key areas and we are now using Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 to exclude persons from a park where their behaviour is anti-social, disorderly or they are committing a crime. These parks are now cleaner, safer and more pleasant to visit and as a result their popularity has increased.”

He added: “We patrol these parks most evenings in partnership with the Mansfield District Council Neighbourhood Wardens and together we strive to maintain that these parks remain pleasant and enjoyable places to visit. We simply ask that everyone respects the parks, keeps them tidy and ensures that their own activity doesn’t cause upset for anyone else there.”