Hailsham Town Council is reminding residents to make full use of its online vandalism and graffiti reporting system, as incidents across the town continue to put pressure on public resources and community spaces.
Introduced last year, the reporting scheme allows members of the public to quickly flag damage to Town Council-maintained property using a straightforward online form. The initiative has already proven effective, enabling the Council’s maintenance team to act quickly on reports and reduce the impact of vandalism where possible.
To make reporting even easier, QR code stickers have been installed on a wide range of Council-owned assets – including bus shelters, noticeboards, playgrounds and community buildings – so residents can submit reports instantly using their mobile phones while out and about.
However, despite early success, recent months have seen a noticeable increase in graffiti and vandalism across several locations in Hailsham. Areas affected include the Tony Tack Memorial Skate Park, public noticeboards, bus shelters and other shared facilities. Each incident requires time and resources to resolve, often delaying planned maintenance and improvement work elsewhere.
One of the most serious recent cases occurred at the Western Road Recreation Ground, where deliberate damage was caused to the children’s play area. Sections of the safety pour surface were cut and destroyed, leaving parts of the site temporarily unsafe and requiring urgent repair.
In light of the rise in incidents, the Town Council is urging residents to report any vandalism immediately to Sussex Police by calling 101, as well as submitting details through the Council’s own reporting system. Prompt reporting plays a key role in helping teams respond quickly and prevent further damage.
The Town Council is responsible for maintaining a wide range of local facilities, including play areas, parks, open spaces, allotments, public buildings and recreational sites throughout Hailsham. While repair work is carried out as swiftly as possible, reducing future incidents depends heavily on community awareness and timely reporting.
Council-maintained sites include:
A full list of sites is available on the Town Council’s website.
Residents can report graffiti, vandalism or damage here or by scanning one of the QR codes displayed on Council-maintained property.
Tony Lee, Operations & Facilities Manager, said: “Every report we receive helps us build a clearer picture of where problems are happening and ensures we can respond as quickly as possible. When residents take a moment to report what they see, it directly helps protect the places we all share.”
“Working together in this way is one of the most effective ways we can tackle vandalism and keep Hailsham a place people are proud of.”
Terry Hall, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk