Allotments 4 All

They have struck been a lottie for just over a year and they have visited our allotment thank god not mine but plenty of others. It was such a shame to hear a few saying they would give it up if the vandals continued so wondered if we could bring a law in where if anyone caught thieving or vandilising on allotments that they are to be put into the stocks and pelted with all rotten Veg available?

SEEMS A WASTE OF GOOD VEG TO ME  BETTER OFF IN THE COMPOST  BRICKS WOULD SUIT ME BETTER IF GIVEN CHOICE OF MISSILE

There are too many "doogooders" around nowadays and they are there to protect these thugs.   

>:(

Saladmuncher - seems pretty fair to me. Mal's got a good point - the veg must be collected up and distributed evenly among the compost bins of all those who were vandilised.

The thought of vandils is enough to make me seriously think about taking on an allotment. I get upset enough when the animals or weather damage my crop, but when human beings do it, I find it far too disheartening.

We have had thieves at my allotment site, but the council have totally sealed the area with a fence now. Often the gate's left open though.
We get fly-tippers, joy riders and a lot of fornicators round our site as well. I don't really mind the fornicators, but the joy riders we could seriously do without. A friend of mine had her plum tree damaged when it was driven into by them.

will the council not make the site secure?
Ours is fenced with a locked gate.  don't know if people climb the fences and get in, but at least no cars can get in.
Sounds awful, - not surprised people are getting fed up.

theft from allotments is very bad but imagine how u would feel if it was the chairman of the association and when u reported it to the council they did nothing

The security of our allotment complex consists of a fence and gate where it borders the road, this is a short stretch. Almost the whole complex is surrounded by canals (some of you may call them ditches), pretty effective until it freezes over in winter hahaha. That's why we take out all the windows of the greenhouse in November and put them back in around April 1. If they get broken in the shed, at least the glass will be contained and not scattered throughout the lottie.

New laws? Maybe a chain gang cleaning vacant lotties? Then again, I'd rather not have them on our complex.

Gutted the vandals have been back twice last week but to add insult to injury have hit the same two plots and destroyed all but a few of friends Broccoli that was just coming to produce. Even though its not my plot thats been hit by mind less vandals it is sickening that kids ( I hope) can do such a thing, now a fellow lottie is close to giving up what he has done for many years and I have lost a mentor a person who was always there to help and advice us beginners.

*(&%^*()(&^%$$#@% and more &%#^*(&^^%#*!!!!!!!

thats just what I thought...

Our allotment site is deathtrap to late night vandals and wanderers. Half the plots which haven't got holders are overgrown and used as dumping grounds for the other plot holders. The dip tanks are low and submerged in the ground. Think 4 feet deep but the lip is ankle high. And each plot is surrounded by a low fence put in by the plot holders (again ankle high). Large fence surrounds the whole site and 4 access gates are always locked. Only two of these gates can you drive through.

Query though.

Law now states you can protect your home from housebreakers, theives and vandals. So if I'm paying rent for my plot then I have right to protect my plot, as long as said vandal stays on my plot. Just like I would be allowed to protect my flat which is also rented. Just a theory.

Salad Muncher

So sorry to hear about your Lottie Problems.

Have you thought of Forming an Association!!

Just maybe then the Local council will Listen!!
THen get the Local Press to Do an Article then Get the Local Police Crime Provention In to have a Look.

Maybe you with some of your Friends on the Lottie can Help
your Mentor replace the lost Crops I Realize its so Heart-Breaking after the Hard work

Have you seen the Series[  Band of Brothers ] Go for it.
I wish you every success.
Remember there are also lots of Good People out there.
Greetings  Take Care  Tulip-23   Mike

Have left it to the individuals to inform relevant people i.e association and council but may take you up on the idea and try and get local paper involved as a lady ...Sandra I believe does an allotment right up in local paper so might see if she can put something in paper on our behalf....phone is gonna be hot tomorrow going to do something constructive for someone else before I plant gas bottles in sheds and hope they stand close enough when they light shed ::)

I wonder what you would achieve with a write-up in the paper. What are vandals looking for with their actions? Make a mark? Look at what I've done! Are you not giving them more recognition by putting it in a paper so they can brag about it to their other friends? I don't think vandals ever do it alone and it might get to the point were they feel they didn't do a good job if it doesn't make the papers again. Great fun to see your actions in the papers. They probably don't have the slightest idea how much work has gone into the lottie and how much sorrow they are causing, by publicising it, it may even seem like they did a bigger job than they thought before.

Our allotment organisation has an agreement with the police to keep vandalism out of the papers. We do inform the police every time vandalism occurs, it doesn't seem to accomplish anything except for getting the paper needed for the insurance of the sheds, tools, greenhouses etc.

Hi

There are three allotment sites in the area which form the local Association sharing a site hut/shop.

The two larger sites (100 plots each) attract vandals (one more than the other)...Theft is minor its ripping a panel off a shed door around the lock, breaking glass in shed windows  just to see what's on offer.

What does get stolen are knives and silly small objects.

There are several ideas that seem to becoming prevalent.

1. Make everything secure ie, shed bolts, alarms etc.

2. Mend the door but don't fit locks so that any petty thief can gain access without doing damage.

3. Don't antagonise the little blighters in case they 'take offense' return and burn sheds.

We do now have an incident book at the sites to report each crime.... apparently statistics matter and the more crime, however petty, creates a pattern that demands Police attention.

It is soul destroying

Derek

Hi all and now back to calm mode I shall make sure that all that need to know are told and stay away from local paper. I like the idea of an incident book at the site as I dont think this has been thought of as association is at it's infant stage.

Quote from: salad muncher on January 19, 2005, 19:02:22
vandilising on allotments that they are to be put into the stocks and pelted with all rotten Veg available?

If caught, and convicted.   I would like to be given the right to collect all things dear to them. Such as their playstation, PC, mobile phone, DVD, TV, designer trainers, chavvy clothes, and scramble bike.  Stick them in a big heap in their back garden and set it alight.   Hopefully the bikes' petrol tank will blow before the fire brigade arrives, spewing debris all over their own/parents garden.

Tina

As the allotment site I am at is on Council estate I think before I arrived, letters were sent to all house holds stating that if there children were caught that they could lose there house, not sure about the law on this but I bet it would work as we have not had a problem on site for years maybe a reminder in the post may do the trick. ???

Salad Muncher.

What is the Idea of an Incident Book at the allotment.

Who will Run it... Fill it in...Make out Incident Reports

Reports must go some place ie: To the Chairman of the Allotment Association
Local Council
Local Police Station
Local Residents Association

A lot of Work for A Book!!!!

It seems that everyone whats something Done

But nobody is doining ANYTHING!!

Use the Local Press to   [ Name and Shame]
You say the Allotment is on A Council Estate.

What is always the Answer If Caught..........We are Bored
We've nothing too Do.............Great Then the Government
should seriously think about bringing back
NATIONAL SERVICE or for young Offenders...Minimum Three Years in An Army Unit For Junior Soldiers.

Its Obvious Prisons Don't Work its Only An Education Centre  for the   Criminals  They come out with More Ideas and Instruction on how to do it Bigger and Better the Next Time.

Maybe you have a different point of view out there lets hear it................so be interesting to say the Least.

What would you do in the same situation as SALAD CRUNCHER???????????????????????????????????.

Greetings Take Care Tulip-23   Mike

We have an incident log book at our Site and I keep it. 
It is useful because we can keep a check of where incidents are happening and to whom and how many times.  It gives us an opportunity to look at our security around the Site and generally.  We are lucky in that we have a perimeter fence (though not very high) and we can take steps to try to protect the area more.   

The Police find it very useful as I can report my findings to the Community Police Officer and he can look at the areas that are being targetted and see if there is a pattern to the vandalism and act accordingly.  He does a tremendous job working with all sorts of recreational and sporting agencies and tries his best to divert these youngster to better pursuits. He has been very helpful to our Society and he often takes the time to patrol the area which must be a good deterrrent when kids hanging around the area, see him.

I know it won't solve the problem completely, I don't think anything will, but at least it's doing something. We got (free of charge) from Northumbria Police some very good shed bars too which are really excellent.  There are  also now some alarms especially for sheds which I know some allotments use.  Every little helps even though it won't eradicate every problem.

It is soul destroying I know, having been vandalised twice in two years, so I can emphathise very strongly with people.  >:( busy_lizzie

Hi Tulip 23 and All
Have just got back and have asked who has been told and what is happening turns out that things are being done i.e fence where the vandals came in is going to be updated which will be a big help but one fellow lottie is a security gaurd and passes lottie on his travels so he is going to monitor allotment at night which is a big help to the situation plus another lottie holder is or was a police officer and his has told pals to keep an eye on things.
So I hope that anyone else finding them selves in the same situation can call on peoples proffesions to help in a crisis.
Just hope that these measures will be enough.

Salad Cruncher ;)

Thats a good start  Wish you very success with your endeavors.

Every little bit of help is a piece more to the Security Jigsaw.

Greetings Take care  Tulip-23  Mike