Cafe owners seek tougher measures on vandalism

Paul and Ronnie Nolloth claim they have endured years of vandalism since taking over the caf three and a half years ago, and say this latest incident is just one in a long line that they have suffered at the hands of hooligans.

As reported in the Observer last week, police are appealing for help in finding the graffiti vandal, who recently went on a paint-spraying rampage from Glyne Gap to as far as the Downs.

Property targeted includes beach huts, Rother District Council signs, the railway arch at Glyne Gap and the caf's fence.

Ronnie said she can't see what can be done to stop it:

"It's annoying and we are going to have to paint the fence. This area seems to be targeted by local yobs. Along with the graffiti, beach huts have been broken into and vandalised or burned.

"Someone tried to burn our fence down by placing a portable barbecue under it and then one and a half weeks later the fence was kicked in and it was burned on Galley Hill.

"We've also had a break-in and chairs stolen, and the security camera was pinched. At one stage we had obscenities scrawled on the building. There's too many incidents, it's a huge problem down here and we're pretty fed-up with it."

Ronnie said one person was subsequently charged with the damage to the

fence and received a fine but claims "we'll never see any of it."

Adding: "Short of a curfew there's nothing that can be done. There's no regular patrol down here and even if there were the yobs would get to know when they were and do their evil deeds between patrols."

Paul Nollath believes Rother District Council should do more:

"It's cost us a lot of money and we feel that the council should put CCTV cameras up.

"There's also the safety of the dog walkers during the winter to consider. Often there are groups of four or five youths loitering in the car park who then come down on to the beach - it's quite intimidating."

A Sussex Police officer said they have reports of the graffiti 'tag' being seen at Battle and on a coach at Hastings and say "enquiries are continuing".

If anyone has any information that would aid police with their enquiries please contact PS Reeve-Fowkes or PC Shaw at Bexhill Police station on 0845 60 70 999 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.