Traumatised villagers left devastated after 'masked travellers' set fire to vehicles in weekend of terror
Images and video released after reports of suspected hare coursing
Hertfordshire Constabulary
A group of “masked travellers” have been accused of traumatising villagers by setting fire to vehicles, raiding shops and ripping up gardens.
The 70-strong gang have been driving through Fenland communities in Cambridgeshire on their 4x4s, and residents have complained that the police have failed to respond.
Locals have been left “traumatised” and are in constant fear of the group, who also allegedly threatened firefighters and stole from a petrol station.
Last night, approximately 300 people attended a public meeting where they claimed that Cambridgeshire Police had been “ignoring” all 999 calls.
Police have released CCTV footage of the group
Hertfordshire Constabulary
The meeting was called by MP Steve Barclay and Manea Councillor Charlie Marks, with residents and farmers sharing their “shocking” stories about the group.
Farmer Matthew Latter, from Sutton Gault, said he had to barricade his “terrified” family in their home for hours after a group of masked men smashed through the gates at his property.
He told the meeting: “We had at least 70 people literally take over our farm from 1.30pm to 4pm.
“There were 13 4x4s. I called police three times. I gave the what3words coordinates of exactly where they were but we didn't have any response – absolutely zero.
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Police have released CCTV footage of the group
Hertfordshire Constabulary
“My seven-year-old daughter was crying and was utterly terrified.”
Leo Butler, another local terrorised by the group, said: “What I would like to know is where were the police? There were no helicopters, no police cars, not one police officer – nothing.”
Another woman said she called 999 after witnessing a robbery at a petrol station but was told to call back on 101 as the situation did not count as an emergency.
Councillor Marks said it was pure luck that no one had been killed or seriously injured. “We could have been mourning a member of our village today,” he said.
Cambridgeshire’s Chief Constable Nick Dean apologised at the meeting, admitting that “perhaps I got it wrong in hindsight”, which drew a wave of laughter amongst the crowd.
Steve Barclay called the meeting which was attended by around 300 people
PAA spokesman for the force said: “We are appealing for information, dashcam footage or CCTV following a number of incidents of hare coursing, yesterday causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to crops as well as putting lives at risk with dangerous driving.
“Up to 25 vehicles were seen, some in convoy, in various parts of the county, These included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington.
"We understand the impact this has had on the community and we are investigating."
After the appeal was announced, local policing commander Superintendent Ben Martin said: “The information we had in advance of this gathering had very limited detail, so a force-wide dispersal order was put in place.
“However, due to the scale of the incident and the multiple locations where offences took place, as well as a significantly demanding weekend elsewhere in the county, we didn't have the resources available to deal with every report we received from members of the public.”
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