Villagers accuse police of abandoning them as 'travellers' run riot
Published: 01:20 GMT, 29 January 2025
Traumatised villagers have accused police of abandoning them after scores of suspected travellers drove cars through fields, set fire to vehicles and even attacked two fire engines while hare coursing.
Up to 70 masked people in abour 25 4x4s brought terror to Fenland communities in Cambridgeshire as they took part in the illegal sport.
Locals left cowering in their homes felt powerless as police failed to respond to dozens of 999 calls.
A video uploaded to social media by one victim showed cars churning up fields as they went off-road.
Chief Constable Nick Dean had to issue a humiliating apology at a public meeting attended by 300 people yesterday, where he drew laughter after sheepishly admitting: 'I perhaps got it wrong in hindsight.'
Farmer Matthew Latter, from Sutton Gault, described how he had to barricade his family in their home for more than three hours after dozens of men wearing balaclavas smashed their way through gates and moved concrete blocks to access his land.
He told the meeting: '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.
'My seven-year-old daughter was crying and was utterly terrified.'
He added: 'My question is, how bad does it have to be? They had cut through every single gate, moved every single concrete block.
'We have been left with four vehicles dumped, two have been burnt out, one is stuck. But despite all this, we have yet to have a police officer come out to us.'
Leo Butler, of Chatteris, said: 'What I would like to know is where were the police? There were no helicopters, no police cars, not one police officer – nothing.'
A woman who called 999 after spotting thugs stealing from a service station in Wimblington said she was told to call back on 101 as it wasn't an emergency. More than £200 of fuel, food and drinks were taken.
Another local warned failure to respond in future could leave police with 'another Tony Martin on your hands'. Farmer Mr Martin was jailed for murder – later reduced to manslaughter – after shooting at burglars in his Norfolk farmhouse in 1999.
The meeting at Manea British Legion Club was convened by North East Cambridgeshire Tory MP Steve Barclay and Fenland District councillor Charlie Marks.
Mr Marks, who spotted a man with the pickaxe handle, said it was pure luck that no one had been killed or seriously injured.
He added: 'You can only imagine what that meant if anyone happened to get in their way.'