Residents fear park 'unsafe' after animal attacks

Councillor Anthony Mullen said a park warden could have helped to reduce vandalism

People no longer feel safe going to their local park after reports of animals being killed and vandalism, a local councillor has said.

Residents have described seeing remains of rabbits and birds at Barnes Park in Sunderland over recent weeks, with one telling the BBC he had even considered wearing a body camera.

Sunderland Conservative leader Anthony Mullen said the park was being "terrorised" by youths on bikes wearing balaclavas.

The council said it was "committed" to addressing anti-social behaviour concerns and was working with partners and the community to "support a safe and respectful environment".

A police investigation, supported by the city council, is ongoing after a group of people were seen harming rabbits on 14 June.

The Labour-run local authority previously released a photo of a group of youths it wanted to trace.

The BBC has obtained an image, shared on Snapchat, appearing to show a boy in the same park posing in front of the camera with a dead pigeon and a catapult. The photo has been passed on to Northumbria Police.

Park toilets have also been vandalised, Mullen said

Mullen said the park toilets had been vandalised and there had been "at least six" instances of arson.

"Recently, people are feeling the park is no longer safe for people who live here," he said.

"It worries me that there are teenagers now who are routinely coming to the park with Stanley knife blades killing animals.

"It's very easy to foresee the circumstances in which someone could be either be killed or seriously harmed."

Local Labour councillor Fiona Torbin said the reported attacks on animals were distressing

Labour's Fiona Torbin condemned the attacks, describing them as "unpleasant" and "distressing".

"Those mindless pieces of violence have no place here," she said.

Mullen said he believed a park warden could have helped reduce vandalism at the site, while Torbin said councillors were "listening and working hard" to make the park a safe place for residents.

'Ball bearings fired'

One man told the BBC he saw the remains of dead animals and birds.

"It's vile and I absolutely hate that they're doing it in the park," he said.

"I understand people like to hunt but there's a time and place."

Another, who also did not want to be named, said he had considered wearing a body camera after coming across groups of youths with catapults and hearing metal ball bearings being fired.

"It's frustrating and angers me because it's a beautiful park, and it's nice to walk around," he said.

"They don't think about the consequences, and it's going to be when, not if, somebody is going to be serious injured."

Northumbria Police said it received a report on 14 June "of concern for the welfare of some animals" in the Barnes Park area of Sunderland.

"Officers attended where it was reported a group of people had been sighted causing harm to rabbits earlier that evening," a spokesperson said.

"However, those involved had left the area before we arrived.

"Enquiries are ongoing to locate those involved, and establish if any criminal offences have taken place."