Fed-up bowls club told off by police for filming underage vandals in CCTV sting

A group of bowling club volunteers who set up a CCTV sting to catch young vandals have been reprimanded by police for filming them without permission.

Harehills Park Bowling Club, in Leeds, organised the sting after experiencing an “unprecedented amount” of vandalism and break-ins over the past eight months.

In the past couple of weeks, their shelters were destroyed and someone tried to break into a shed, causing around £3,000 of damage.

But the club has accused West Yorkshire Police of criticising them for taking a video of the youths who tried to break in, as they are “kids”.

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The bowls club, established in 1907, decided to get CCTV to catch the vandals. Hours later they discovered one of their memorial benches had been destroyed.

The CCTV footage had stopped recording - but captured clear images showing the youngsters before they put the balaclavas on and messed with the camera.

The next day, the same group of youths approached the members on the green again if they could play.

They recognised the children and called police, who advised them to lock the vandals on the bowling green until they arrived.

But the club claims officers later told them they should not have filmed the children.

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On a statement posted on social media, Harehills Park Bowling Club said: "The police actually complained to me for taking a video because they are kids.”

Laura Hassoun, chairman of the club added: "We just hope that they (suspected vandals) come and have a game with us, and respect the game moving forward.

"The police took them home and made them write an apology, so we just hope that they do have decent parents who are going to be responsible and hopefully come forward and come and meet us.

"We don't expect any compensation financially but meeting us would be the best way forward for us."

West Yorkshire Police said: "Police attended Harehills Bowling Club at about 6.10pm on 19 August after it was reported that a male who was alleged to have been involved in an incident of damage at the location on the previous night had reattended with others.

"Officers liaised with the reporting person and two 13-year-old males received community resolutions after they admitted to being involved."

There is currently no law preventing people from taking photographs of others in public, including photos of other people's children.

Yahoo News UK has contacted West Yorkshire Police for further comment.