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Canterbury's Dane John Gardens a magnet for violence, gang crime and drugs

Canterbury’s showpiece Dane John Gardens have become a magnet for violence, gang crime and drugs.

The neat lawns and flowerbeds have been the backdrop for a manslaughter, brutal attacks and brazen illegal drug activity.

Gangs of thugs routinely prowl the gardens, which are billed as an attraction for families and overlooked by some of the most exclusive properties in the city.

Warning: graphic image below

By day the gardens attract gangs of drunken youths
By day the gardens attract gangs of drunken youths

Disturbing crime statistics obtained by the KentOnline's sister paper the Kentish Gazette portray a stark contrast to its image as a peaceful and relaxing green space in the busy city centre.

The Dane John’s lengthy rap sheet contains a manslaughter, 32 assaults and three attacks so serious they inflicted grievous bodily harm.

“I won’t even let my boyfriend walk through the park at night, and he’s 6ft 2in”

Drugs are openly used and reportedly sold with little fear of arrest.

Many citizens now avoid the Dane John altogether – day and night.

Police insist the number of crimes – 84 in the last three years – is not cause for alarm.

But it is the seriousness of the offences which provokes concern.

One man beaten to death. Another almost thrown from the city wall. Two men attacked with a crowbar and knuckledusters.

The list is long, but the scale of the criminal activity is thought to be even higher with many incidents going unreported.

The Gazette probe into the level of crime was sparked by shocking acts of violence in the park.

In July 2013, homeless alcoholic David Wilkes was kicked to death in the Peace Garden by Watling Street. His two killers were jailed last year for nine and 10 years.

In February this year a gang of teenagers tried to throw a young man from the city wall.

The 21-year-old – too scared to be identified – was beaten so severely he needed a brain scan and was left with a footprint on his head.

Joshua Buggins (front) and Matthew White
Joshua Buggins (front) and Matthew White

He had to tried to intervene as the gang harassed a young girl, but they – and the girl – turned on him and a friend, raining kicks and blows as they tried to fend them off.

"There are gangs of teenagers drinking, smoking drugs, fighting, shouting – it’s so intimidating, and that’s during the day"

Three months later Joshua Buggins and Matthew White were set upon by a gang of youths armed with a metal bar, a chain and a knuckle duster as they walked home after a night out.

Mr White, 28, had his right ear ripped in half and was knocked out.

Mr Buggins, 28, lost an eyebrow and suffered a broken nose and chipped teeth. The pair needed 20 stitches for their wounds.

One man, who is a regular visitor to the park but did not want to be named, said: “There is a problem with groups of youths who openly smoke drugs, sometimes in broad daylight.

“I have seen them intimidate people and there is anti-social behaviour.

“When the police do come, they seem to have a softly-softly approach and rarely search anyone for drugs. The youths don’t have any respect for them.

“Recently, a young man had a pitbull-type dog running loose and it attacked a small dog belonging to a woman.

“It’s a pity because they are lovely gardens that most responsible people just want to enjoy.”

Matthew White's ear was torn in half
Matthew White's ear was torn in half

A Freedom of Information request reveals there have been 46 violent crimes in the park since August 2012, with 20 reported drugs offences involving cannabis and ecstasy.

Like many, one woman, who lives in Wincheap, used to walk through the park to get to and from the city centre. “I wouldn’t dream of doing it now,” she said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“There are gangs of teenagers drinking, smoking drugs, fighting, shouting – it’s so intimidating, and that’s during the day.

“The thought of going through there alone at night is terrifying.

“These statistics just go to show it’s not a safe place.

“I won’t even let my boyfriend walk through the park at night, and he’s 6ft 2in.”

Police deny the scale of the offences in the Dane John is exceptional, arguing that the park is regularly patrolled by officers and monitored by CCTV.

Canterbury district commander Ch Insp Mark Arnold
Canterbury district commander Ch Insp Mark Arnold

Ch Insp Mark Arnold said: “Eighty- four crimes in three years equates to an average of 28 crimes a year or just over two crimes a month.

“We appreciate that even two crimes a month is two too many, but considering the thousands of people who use or pass through the Dane John Gardens every year the figures are not high"

“We appreciate that even two crimes a month is two too many, but considering the thousands of people who use or pass through the Dane John Gardens every year the figures are not high.

“Of those crimes the most serious was the manslaughter of David Wilkes in July 2013.

“This was an unfortunate incident among our rough sleeper community and the two people responsible were caught and subsequently convicted of that offence.

"We take all crime seriously and are never complacent.

“Members of our city team regularly patrol the Dane John Gardens and the park is covered by CCTV, which is monitored around the clock by Canterbury City Council, which reports any criminal or anti-social behaviour to us immediately as a matter of course.

“I would like to reassure people that every incident is fully investigated. We want both residents and visitors to feel confident that the Dane John Gardens are a safe place to visit.

“Residents and visitors to Canterbury should be reassured that my officers and I will continue to robustly police Dane John Gardens and the rest of the district where there is identified crime and anti-social behaviour, putting victims and witnesses first.”

Ch Insp Arnold added that crime in the district is down on last year, which he attributes to “good old-fashioned community policing and targeting known offenders”.

He also said that crime was being recorded more accurately than ever, thanks to a robust new approach.

The picturesque Dane John Gardens
The picturesque Dane John Gardens

Reporter Alex Claridge visited the Dane John Gardens one night this week. Here he describes what he witnessed

A lad in a baseball hat pulls cigarette papers out of a light blue packet and starts attaching them to one another.

Within seconds he is mixing cannabis with tobacco before rolling a joint. This isn’t some drug den in an inner city hellhole nor is it a back alley on a crumbling housing estate.

It’s the Dane John Gardens. A trio of teenagers in baseball caps are sitting on the well-kept lawn by the smaller monument in the park. Behind them are some of the most expensive properties in the city.

Many people say they do feel safe visiting the gardens after dark. Picture: Chris Davey
Many people say they do feel safe visiting the gardens after dark. Picture: Chris Davey

They pass the joint to one another, unconcerned by anyone who might be about.

Welcome to the apparently acceptable face of criminality in Canterbury in the early 21st century.

Perhaps the real issue is that those inclined to mischief in the gardens do not fear the law.
Just look at Monday night’s cannabis smokers

They haven’t even noticed me sitting on a bench around 20 yards away. It’s about 7.30pm on Monday night and still light.

As I make my way further through the gardens, I come across another group rolling a joint. This lot are on a bench immediately next to the path by the Don Juan Cafe.

The fact that the police station is just yards from the Dane John is no deterrent.

Meanwhile, the Worthgate Place end of the park has become the stopping place for a group of homeless people.

They sit in the murk of the undergrowth on the bank leading up to the footbridge over the Rheims Way. It is hardly a good advert for one of Canterbury’s showpiece gardens.

But then again, city centre parks always attract people on the fringes of society. In July 2013, homeless alcohol David Wilkes was kicked to death in the Peace Garden by Watling Street.

That was in the middle of the afternoon, and most people wouldn’t think twice of using the gardens during the day.

Night is a different matter. Then again, most people would feel nervous in any unlit place at night.

Dane John’s real issue is its peculiar geographic circumstance.

The East Station, the bus station, the Open Centre for rough sleepers and a large nightclub are within a minute’s walk.

Our reporter witnessed blatant drug taking. Picture: Chris Davey
Our reporter witnessed blatant drug taking. Picture: Chris Davey

Unlike the Westgate Gardens, it also a major route to and from the city centre. The park attracts all sorts.

Young immigrant males collide with drugs users who collide with bored teenagers who collide with alcoholics who collide with transients who collide with nightclubbers who collide with commuters.

Perhaps the real issue is that those inclined to mischief in the gardens do not fear the law.
Just look at Monday night’s cannabis smokers.

Their disregard for the law is breathtaking.

It invites the conclusions either that drug use in Canterbury is essentially decriminalised or that police patrols are so rare that they are the exception rather than the rule.

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