A COMMUNITY in north Watford, which has suffered repeated acts of vandalism, has called on the chief constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary to supply them with a beat officer.

People living near the Kingswood parade of shops, in the Woodside area, have written more than 60 letters to Mr Paul Acres asking for a community officer to patrol the alleyways either side of North Approach and North Orbital Road on a Friday and Saturday night.

They believe it would be a firm deterrent to youths who have repeatedly smashed garden fences and thrown objects at people's windows.

Mr Bob Masters of Sheepcote Drive, Garston, who gathered in many of the letters, said he was spurred into action after an elderly couple in the street were too terrified to leave their home earlier this month.

He said: 'That was the last straw for me. I am a window cleaner and so I see a lot of the destruction that has gone on. The garden fences which back onto the alley behind the shops, which runs from Garston to Woodside, are a regular target for youngsters at weekends.

'If you see the kids doing things and call the police then it's usually an hour or more before an officer arrives and by then the damage has already been done and they have moved on.

'We need a visible police presence there, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night.

'We're asking the chief constable to do something to protect us and our property as it is affecting the quality of people's lives.'

Mr Masters added: 'After some of the youngsters are caught perhaps parents will realise that they need to be asking where their children are getting to late at night and who they are with.'

Superintendent Chris Taylor said: 'We are aware of peoples concerns about anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods especially by youths and these are concerns which we share and take seriously.

'Last summer in Watford and Three Rivers we created five community safety teams, each led by a sergeant, to concentrate specifically on local problems of this nature.

'In north Watford the team has had a number of notable successes in problem areas but they do rely on residents giving them information so they can act accordingly.'

He added: 'To date no letters have been received by the chief constable but as and when they do peoples concerns will be addressed and taken seriously.

'Meanwhile the community safety team sergeant for north Watford is Greg Taylor and people can contact him directly on 01923 472347.