Police

They're overstretched to the point of breaking. Sickness absence due to stress is at an all time high. Proactive initiatives that were proving effective, working with targeted groups and communities to stop crime before it happened, have largely disappeared due to the cutbacks. This is very much a case of us getting what we pay for. The only surprise to me is that we continue to be told that crime rates are dropping. Has anyone noticed that happening in their area?

My guess is that the ever-increasing need for the police to prioritize means that non-inhabited (and probably insured) properties, such as the bowling club, are at the bottom of the list because the risk to life and limb is very low. Same goes for the mindless vandalism in parks etc.

It's sad, not to mention very distressing for those affected, that we have come to this, and equally sad that we live in a society where this sort of mindless destruction is so commonplace.
If only there was a simple solution

I was surprised to read in the Press that a police "dispersal order" was being put in place in Wimbledon Town Centre this past week to deal with bad behaviour by school children (groups fighting). So in my area the police do deal with youth vandalism etc. However - I was even more surprised to read that some parents objected and resisted police intervention alongside the children. It made me wonder ...

The government have reduced the police to such a degree that they can only come out to major crimes and that is not the polices fault I m sure they would rather be fighting all crime
The only answer is to change government or get the community involved in looking after the park or preferable both

I would imagine because of the cuts imposed on them of late they have to strictly prioritise . Damage to buildings and the other things you mention would come pretty low down . I would say `overstretched` is an understatement .