A VANDAL has smashed the windscreen of a police car - while it was parked in the station.

Police have slammed the vandalism as 'mindless' saying it has stretched already tight resources.

"On the evening of Wednesday December 20 a young male entered the rear yard of Consett police station and attacked one of the marked police vehicles smashing the front windscreen," said Insp Keith Wardle, of Consett Police. 

"The incident has been caught on CCTV and we are making enquires to identify the suspect.

"This act of vandalism has far reaching consequences.

"This is the busiest time of year for police, we do not have a fleet of vehicles waiting in the wings that we can call on and will be without this vehicle for several days.

"The vehicle is our 4 x 4 capability at Consett which we rely on at this time of year. We attend up to 40 incidents in any 24hr period in Consett ranging from people who have had their houses broken into, missing vulnerable people, assaults, people suffering mental health episodes and thefts.

"With ever dwindling resources this mindless act has left local police stretched even further."

  • If anyone has any information about the incident please contact police via 101 or if you wish via Crimstoppers 0800 555111