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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
David Humphreys

Teens smash up phone boxes and bus stops in Christmas rampage

Phone boxes, bus stops and digital information signs have been targeted by vandals across Liverpool city centre over two days.

Dramatic images show damage caused to installations across the city on Sunday December 18 and Monday December 19. More than half a dozen phone boxes had their doors and windows smashed in outside St John’s Market while digital information screens in Clayton Square had also been targeted, it is thought, by teenagers.

The two BT digital information hubs - which are being installed to replace outdated phone boxes throughout the city - were seen wrapped in tape and blocked off by orange plastic bollards on Tuesday afternoon, while glass from damaged phone boxes was left strewn across the pavement near St John’s. Damage was also done to bus stop signs in Queen Square.

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Frames outside upcoming shows at the Playhouse theatre in Williamson Square had also been targeted by the vandals, with smashed glass on two green lined wall adornments at the side of the historic building.

The roof of the underground car park at Liverpool ONE was also damaged according to Merseyside Police. In a statement, the force said: “It was reported that a group of teenagers damaged several poster frames and phone boxes at the Playhouse Theatre on Williamson Square on Sunday 18 December at around 9pm.

“The roof at the underground carpark of Liverpool ONE was also damaged at around 8.40pm. Glass panels were smashed at around 10pm on St Johns Precinct.

“Several information boards on Queen Square Centre were damaged at around 9.45pm on Sunday, December 18. A further four information boards were smashed on Monday, December 19 in the same area.”

No injuries were reported to police, according to a force spokesperson. Officers are carrying out CCTV enquiries in the areas where each incident took place.

Anyone who witnessed these incidents or has any information is asked to contact police on Twitter via direct message @MerPolCC, using reference 22000932052 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/

Liverpool Council confirmed it was working with Merseyside Police in relation to the damage caused to the street furniture.

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