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Police issue statement after Paddington Bear statue vandal convicted

Police issue statement after Paddington Bear statue vandal convicted

Yahoo12 hours ago
CUMBRIA Police have said that they 'will not tolerate' anti-social behaviour and violence after a vandal who damaged a popular Paddington bear statue in Penrith was convicted.
Anil Puri, aged 56, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after causing criminal damage to a Paddington Bear Statue in Little Dockray in December.
Magistrates fined Puri, of Stanstead Road, Lewisham, London, £50. He must also pay £290 compensation to Penrith Business Improvement District (BID), along with £85 costs and a £20 mandatory surcharge.
After Puri's conviction, community beat officer PC Stewart Green highlighted the force's commitment to tackling 'anti-social behaviour and violence' in hotspot areas such as Penrith town centre.
READ MORE: Vandal dumped shrub over statue of beloved Paddington bear, causing outcry
He said: "Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) will continue to target those who seek to commit offences such as this within our local community, including through Operation Enhance - our operation dedicated to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence in hotspot areas including in Penrith town centre."
"I hope this conviction serves as a reminder to other offenders that 'this type of behaviour will not be tolerated by Cumbria Police."
Operation Enhance is funded after Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured an additional £1million of extra funding from the Government's Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.
There are increased patrols in Penrith Town Centre area as part of Operation Enhance.
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