Vandals target community centre five times in a week

Community centre leaders have told of their anger after their building was repeatedly attacked by vandals.

More than £5,000 worth of damage was caused to The Fleet Community Centre in Peterborough after it was targeted five times in a week.

Centre manager Isabella Caruso said she had camped out to deter those responsible for the "mindless" vandalism.

Cambridgeshire Police said it was investigating "multiple" reports of criminal damage.

The Peterborough City Council-owned centre on Fleet Way is run by the Italian Community Association.

Ms Caruso said nine windows and a door had been smashed and the attacks had left centre users "very upset".

"Some of the culprits have been caught in the act on the centre's CCTV, but they don't seem to care," she said.

"It is so upsetting. We are a much-used and loved centre and are being subjected to mindless vandalism.

"It looks like a group of people on e-scooters and bikes with these massive bricks who just come and smash the windows.

"One night they smashed three windows while there was a Zumba class ongoing inside."

She added: "I am now leaving the lights on till about 5am in the morning. We don't know what to do.

"I have even camped out for few hours in the evenings to try and catch or deter them, but I miss them."

Ms Caruso said there had been a lot of community support for the centre but described the police response as "disappointing" and called for a more visible presence.

A council spokesperson said it was supporting tenants "who have responsibility for any repair work" and the centre's security was being discussed.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: "Officers have been to the scene on Monday and an investigation is ongoing. No arrests have yet been made."

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