Updated: Catapult Attacks, Shoplifting and Graffiti – the ASB Problem That Ash Is Facing

Published on: 10 Jun, 2025
Updated on: 12 Jun, 2025

The canal at Ash Vale, where attacks on wildlife have taken place.

By David Reading

Updated with a statement from Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner

Concerns about vandalism and other antisocial behaviour problems have been growing in the Ash area.

Residents have been expressing outrage over catapult attacks on wildlife  and on people’s pets and property, and now concerns are also being raised about shoplifting and graffiti.

Areas targeted by graffiti are  numerous, including the new Chester Bridge over the railway line at Ash and the tunnel in Shawfield Road.

Graffiti in the tunnel in Shawfield Road. There is a clean-up in progress in the tunnel.

Surrey Police have posted messages on social media assuring residents that officers have been patrolling the Basingstoke Canal at Ash Vale, where the attacks on wildlife have taken place, but Ash parish councillors have pointed out that the problems of antisocial behaviour (ASB) extend far wider than the canal. And according to the chair of the council, Cllr Fiona White, it has been frustratingly difficult to engage with the police.

Cllr Fiona White

Cllr White told Monday’s parish council meeting that she wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, nearly a month ago highlighting the ASB problems in Ash but had not received a reply to that email. The vice-chair, Cllr Carla Morson, tried to contact the Guildford Borough Commander, Blaine Rafferty, also without success.

Cllr White had asked the Commissioner what action Surrey Police would be taking to address Ash’s ASB problems which, she said, included cruelty to wildlife, shoplifting and damaging people’s homes and property. She requested a meeting.

She told Monday’s parish council meeting that she was well aware officers had been patrolling the canal area, but she said: “This is a big community and the problems don’t all happen in one place. I think it needs a much wider plan before we see any real progress.”

She added: “I will keep on pursuing the issue of ASB until we have a meaningful conversation with the police and they come up with a plan to stop the bad behaviour that is upsetting so many people. I’m sure this parish council and every member of the community will be only too happy to work with them, but it’s an issue where only the police can take leadership.”

Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner

The only contact Cllr White received from the police was in response to a message she posted about ASB on social media. This offered to put her in touch with the Borough Commander but made no reference to the fact that the council had already requested a meeting.

Cllr White has pointed out that progress to address ASB has been made in Guildford, and well publicised by the police, but the problems in Ash – “the second [largest] urban area in Guildford” – were just as serious.

Public outrage across Ash about antisocial behaviour came to a head in May.  More than 50 people turned up at a public meeting to demonstrate their anger about the catapult attacks on wildlife in the area.

Among the attacks reported in The Guildford Dragon NEWS were the following:

• Four teenagers with catapults firing at ducks on the canal, seriously injuring one of them.
• A coot found dead floating next to its nest. According to a post on social media, a witness had seen it catapulted.

Angered by the attacks, Ash Vale resident Mark Gould organised the public meeting at St Mary’s Church, at which the strength of feeling became clear.

The signs that are going up by the canal in Ash Vale

Comments made by residents suggested there may be more catapult incidents than those actually reported to the police, the targets including not only wildlife but also people’s property and their pets.

A major focus of the meeting was how any future attacks should be reported. Subsequently, signs were made up providing a clear explanation to anyone witnessing attacks on wildlife about the most effective reporting method, and these are now being displayed by residents. They give the instruction “See it, film it, report it” and carry a QR code enabling people to upload video evidence.

An approach to residents who have CCTV cameras in place, asking if they would made footage available in the event of further incidents, has been really positive, according to Mr Gould.

Cllr Richard Lucas

Local councillor Richard Lucas, who spoke at the public meeting, commented afterwards: “It is understandable and right that residents are feeling outraged and disgusted at these attacks on wildlife, pets and property.

“No matter how we feel, we must act effectively, constructively, and legally to these criminal offences. Above all, that means reporting the incidents to the police.”

He added: “There is a clear mismatch between the number of reported incidents recently (three logged by the police) and the number of incidents described at the meeting and on social media.”

Surrey Police have made several posts on social media relating to patrols along the canal.

On June 4, they said: “The Basingstoke Canal patrols continued throughout half-term at various times.

“In one patrol our local officer covered nearly 7 km of the canal where they spoke with passers by whilst also protecting local wildlife who have previously been targeted.

“This is an example of just one patrol and the routes are changed every time. They also include surrounding roads, alleyways and footpaths.”

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said in a statement to the Guildford Dragon yesterday (June 11) that she and her Deputy Commissioner were determined to tackle the issue of catapult attacks across Surrey and were in the process of lobbying the Government to take a stronger stance.

Commenting specifically about Ash, the Commissioner said: “I spoke to Guildford’s Borough Commander last week about the situation in Ash and I know his team are working hard to tackle ASB and other criminal activity in the local area with extra patrols. I would urge local residents to report any incidents to police so that an accurate picture can be established and police resources can be targeted where they are needed most.

“The issue of catapult use across Surrey is one my Deputy Commissioner, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, and I are determined to tackle. It is time for tighter legislation, and we are in the process of lobbying the Government to take a stronger stance on both attacks against wildlife and anti-social behaviour that involves projectiles.”

Ash’s ASB problems are not new. In May 2021, The Guildford Dragon reported on outbreaks of anti-social behaviour including criminal damage and arson in the Ash Wharf area, and this had resulted in police issuing a covering dispersal order.

This empowered the police to order anyone suspected of crime or causing disorder every day between 2pm and midnight till June 14 to leave the area for up to 48 hours. Anyone under 16 could be ordered home if they were found unsupervised in public places after 9pm.

The police said then: “We are working hard to reduce anti-social behaviour and its wider impact on the Ash and Tongham communities. To do this, we need people to report incidents to us as quickly as possible.

“This allows us to build a bigger picture of what’s going on in the area, which in turn means we can better target our patrols and strategy. If you see any anti-social behaviour, please report it via our website, or by privately messaging our social media channels.”

In the light of the most recent incidents, Ash Parish Council is still hoping for a meeting with Surrey police at a high level.

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