Published on 26th January 2017

view between trees of Pittville lake

As George the swan is in recovery at Vale Wildlife Hospital after his ordeal this week, the borough council is urging the community to work together and report any suspicious activity.

George, the male swan is part of a breeding pair from Pittville Lake and was attacked earlier this week with a crossbow.  He is still in critical condition though starting to show small signs of improvement.  Whilst an isolated incident, it has raised concerns about security in the popular park and the council wishes to reassure the community that they, together with the police are continuing to do all they can to ensure safety of people and wildlife in the area.

The council’s community rangers and teams from Ubico visit the park daily and local police have increased patrols in the area. The police have received a lot of phone calls about the swan attack and are following and discounting leads when they come in.  The public can call 101 and quote incident 66 of 24 January with any information which may help with the inquiry.

Councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment said: ‘’The news this week that George the Swan had been attacked really saddened me. I’d like to personally thank those at Vale Wildlife Hospital for all of the care they have shown towards George and to members of the public who have helped with funding towards his recovery.

‘’Of course this incident has raised the question of safety and security around the park which has always been something we’ve worked hard towards, together with the police, volunteers and other partners.

‘’Every day the park is enjoyed by families, runners, dog walkers and of course wildlife and it should be a relaxing place, free from any worries about safety.  I would ask the community to really rally around and take ownership of this lovely park that we’re so lucky to have. If you see any suspicious activity, please report it and don’t assume that someone else has.’’

The constabulary’s general advice to the public is that if anyone witnesses any suspicious or anti-social behaviour in a park or anywhere around the borough, to call 101 or 999 if they believe a crime is taking place or public safety is compromised.

The council is in the process of reviewing CCTV around town in partnership with the police and will be assessing the frequency of incidents in particular locations when deciding which areas should be prioritised for cameras.

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