By Conor Sharkey
POLICE in Sion Mills have called for calm following yet another weekend of anti-social mayhem in the village.
What should have been a pleasant Bank Holiday weekend for residents turned out to be anything but, as vandals went on the rampage, kicking off wing mirrors, pouring paint over vehicles and damaging the local cricket pitch.
Local Neighbourhood Watch representative Andy Patton said the latest round of wrecking had left many locals at the end of their tether.
"We thought we had rooted out those behind the vandalism here in Sion, but what happened on Saturday night and Sunday morning was just wanton destruction.
"I know police have resources in this area, but it isn't enough. And the concern now is over vigilante groups taking the law into their own hands and sorting out the culprits by themselves.
"I have spoken to ordinary fathers who are saying they have had enough and are going to take care of things their way.
"We don't want that happening and I would ask anyone to go to the police rather than try and sort things out alone," he said.
And while the situation does appear to be spiralling in the picturesque village, Area Commander Phil Marx said they were working to bring it under control.
"The problem with anti-social behaviour is that we can't tackle it alone. We need the community to support us and work with us.
"The question I would ask is what are the parents doing? Have they no social conscience at all?
"We have adequate resources in the Sion area who patrol nightly until 1am but we need added support from community groups and parents," he said.
With regards the threat of vigilante-ism, Chief Inspector Marx said such action had to be condemned.
"We are the sole guardians of law and order and I would say to anyone thinking about taking the law into their own hands to desist.
"Come and speak to us and allow us to go along the proper investigative channels."
Meanwhile, the area commander highlighted an alcohol awareness project set to be rolled out across the District in the near future, which he hopes will help combat the ongoing anti-social activity in Sion.
"We have a great youth forum in Castlederg which is helping highlight the alcohol issue. Many of the instances in Sion Mills are alcohol fuelled so we hope the programme will help curb the vandalism there when it is rolled over the coming months," he said.
'I have spoken to ordinary fathers who are saying they have had enough and are going to take care of things their way.'
