Vandals trash Kellingley Miners’ Welfare Club

Vandals caused hundreds of pounds of damage during a wrecking spree at Kellingley Miners’ Welfare Club.
Criminal damage at Kellingley Miners' Welfare ClubCriminal damage at Kellingley Miners' Welfare Club
Criminal damage at Kellingley Miners' Welfare Club

The roof of the club’s changing rooms was damaged and a window was smashed on the building known as The Greenhouse sometime during Monday night and the next morning.

Police had been planning to run a youth club, to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in Knottingley, at the building.

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PCSO Richard Shaw, of Pontefract and Knottingley neighbourhood police team (NPT), said: “The changing rooms are used by sports teams and a junior neighbourhood watch group was only set up last month.

PCSOs Aaron Riley and Richard Shaw have set up a second junior neighbourhood watch in KnottingleyPCSOs Aaron Riley and Richard Shaw have set up a second junior neighbourhood watch in Knottingley
PCSOs Aaron Riley and Richard Shaw have set up a second junior neighbourhood watch in Knottingley

“The main hurdle for both the new group and sports teams in the area has always been a lack of funding but damage like this is mindless and totally disheartening for all involved - it is yet another setback.

“The youths involved in the new watch group are quite rightly upset. They have shown their desire to improve the town and work with police and partners and incidents like this simply disrupt any progress made.”

The junior neighbourhood watch group formed last month after a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour around Hill Top.

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The group will hold regular meetings in the town to discuss potential projects to improve the area.

Insp Geoff Carter, of the NPT, said: “We have now got the only two junior neighbourhood watch groups in the country in Knottingley. I think that just shows how the youngsters in Knottingley feel about the town.

“It’s really positive as it shows they want to make the town better. I’m also really grateful of the work that Aaron and Richard do in Knottingley. They are very well known and very well liked.

“They go above and beyond what is expected of them and a lot of the positive work is down to them.”

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Anyone with any information about the criminal damage incident should contact police on 101, quoting crime reference number 13150448599.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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