TWO CARS were damaged in one day at the Forest Community Centre in Bordon – and it happened on the same day police representatives attended a public meeting at the venue.

Whitehill & Bordon Community Association trustee, Karla Reale’s Audi S3 was “targeted by someone firing a missile at the rear passenger door” on Thursday (January 16) between 11am and 4.45pm. It happened while she was working with young people at the centre as part of The Forest Youth Project, which she said made it “particularly galling”.

Karla said it caused a “deep indentation which has been estimated at £1,250 to repair” and was told by police they “will not be following this incident up – even though two buses have been damaged by the same method recently”, as previously reported in the Bordon Herald.

“Sadly I do not think I will be the last victim,” she added.

According to a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson, this incident is “still under investigation” as criminal damage.

In a separate incident, an abandoned car had its two front windows smashed on Thursday night. All four tyres are also flat.

According to centre manager Lindsay Kelly, the black Vauxhall Corsa was reported to police and East Hampshire District Council – whose responsibility it is to remove abandoned vehicles – on December 17.

But, a police spokesman confirmed nothing could be found on their system for this, with a district council spokesman adding they were only informed of the vehicle on Friday (January 17).

The council spokesman said that if the car is deemed dangerous, “we can look to remove the vehicle quicker”, adding: “Our case officer will assess the situation and make this decision.”

Lindsay continued the car is “prime for a fire or for drug dealing”, and said it “looks horrible for our users”. She was told by police they “can’t do anything about the car”.

But, she was keen to emphasise this “doesn’t happen often in the car park”, and they are now “looking into funding for CCTV and more lighting”, as well as security at the centre.

“We want to raise awareness but at the same time we don’t want to scaremonger,” she said.

“Anti-social behaviour is happening across the whole town centre, not just here. We used to pick up the phone and they’d run away – now they don’t.”

It all happened on the same night the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and police officers attended a public meeting at the centre entitled ‘Making our Community Safer’.

Hosted by Whitehill Town Council’s executive committee, around 60 residents made their way to the community centre to pose questions to Acting Inspector Philip Shore, Neighbourhood Sergeant Simeon Poulton and PCC Michael Lane.

And when the floor opened for public questions last Thursday, the focus was mainly on anti-social behaviour and a lack of police visibility.

Mr Lane said he “valued” the opportunity to attend the meeting and added: “I continue to scrutinise the chief constable regarding the constabulary’s response to anti-social behaviour, both in our private meetings and at public COMPASS sessions.

“However, this is an issue which requires a partnership response, with police, local authorities and communities themselves all having a role to play. Since Thursday’s meeting I have met with Damian Hinds MP to brief him on the issues raised and will continue to work with him and others to take these forward.”

Following the incidents at the community centre, Sgt Poulton said: “We are aware of an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area and I can reassure the public that work is ongoing to build an accurate picture of what is happening and who is involved.”

In order to continue to do this, Sgt Poulton said they need residents to report any incidents or suspicious behaviour, adding “information is key”.

Town council leader, Councillor Andy Tree, said they aim to host a further meeting in three months.