TEIGNMOUTH police inspector Jon Perry has sent out a 'help me' plea after vandals left a wave of destruction on the seafront. He said that bringing such criminals to book is hindered by promises of CCTV that have not been delivered. Thousands of pounds of damage was caused to parked cars and a seafront-viewing platform on Friday. A Ford Fiesta, a Land Rover, Renault Laguna and Nissan Almera were among the cars that had windscreens and windows smashed. The viewing platform, above the former aquarium, had 11 panes of toughened glass, costing £400 each, smashed. That's on top of another 11 panes that have been shattered in recent weeks. Insp Perry said the promenade is a priority for CCTV coverage and if it had been in place, it could have been the witness needed to stop the crime spree and bring the culprits to book. 'For three years I have been going on about CCTV and still we do not have it. 'I need help and I get pledged help but nothing gets delivered and that is so frustrating. 'Give us the support you say you are going to give us,' he said. Teignmouth Town Council has put infrastructure in place for cameras in a phased programme. It says that its current bid for coverage has been hindered by a lack of space at the main monitoring centre in Newton Abbot. The monitoring centre had held space for Teignmouth in the past but passed it over to towns ready to go live. It is due to expand this year, but the town council wants assurances that monitoring will be sufficient to cope with demand. Teignmouth councillors Sylvia Russell and Vince Fusco inspected the damage on Saturday morning. Cllr Russell spotted the debris on the way for her daily dip in the sea. She said 'It is mob rule down there and I do not know what we have done to deserve this. 'The culprits know what pressure the police are under and it does not help not having CCTV, but that cannot be a substitute for proper policing. 'This is now going to raise questions for Teignbridge Council, which is invested so much on the Den, but how are they going to protect their investment?' she said. Teignbridge and town councillor David Cox said he would be calling for CCTV for the summer season. 'The town council needs to get on with CCTV and I will push for a temporary solution for the summer. 'The town council needs to work with the police as a town council on this,' he said. Beach huts at the Point have also come in for unwanted attention. Fires on the beach have been lit and wood taken from the huts to burn on them. Beach hut spokesman Sean Brogan said: 'It has started again. We have had problems in the past with people starting fires, even between huts. 'Lighting fires on the beach itself is illegal and whoever is doing this is acting recklessly,' he said.
