Police launch arson appeal after Kingston Park playground ransacked

Police are appealing for information after a children's playground near Kingston Park was ransacked on Friday evening.

An investigation is ongoing after the playground was damaged on Brunton Lane, Kingston Park on Friday, April 23.

It is believed that those responsible entered the park’s play area at 8:30 pm and stripped wood from nearby trees to start a fire causing significant damage to the grounds and play equipment.

Emergency services were called and the fire was safely extinguished however, the offenders had fled the scene and their actions have left the park unusable for the local children.

An investigation has been launched and officers are treating the fire as suspected arson and are asking the public to come forward with any information.

Neighbourhood Inspector Karen Madge, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a senseless offence which has left a community without its local park.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated in our communities and anyone found to have been involved can expect to be dealt with robustly.

“A number of enquiries are ongoing to identify those involved but today we’re asking anyone who may have information that could help our investigation to get in touch – no matter how small the detail.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of their website or by calling 101 quoting reference number NP-20220423-1097.