PHONE boxes and parked cars were damaged near to Weymouth train station.
Police officers were called to the area at 6.44pm on Wednesday, January 13 following a report of criminal damage nearby.
Officers discovered that two phone boxes and a number of cars had been damaged on Ranelagh Road.
The two phone boxes have now been cordoned off, with bits of glass scattered around the pavement.
A police officer returned to the scene after 11am on Thursday, January 14 to carry out further enquiries and visited the nearby My Amazing Fantasy store to collect CCTV footage from the manager, Jason Williams.
He said: "People were just walking by and it was unbelievable. People just acted as if it is something that normally happens in the area.”
He adds that he hoped plans to transform the train station’s forecourt will help ‘sort out the trouble in the area’ and curb anti-social behaviour.
Mr Williams added: "They are looking to remove the phone boxes so they will not be abused anymore."
A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “At 6.44pm on Wednesday, January 13 we received a report of a man causing damage to cars near to Weymouth train station.
“Officers attended and discovered damage had also been caused to two telephone kiosks. The alleged offender had left the scene.
“Following enquiries, at around 9.30pm a 43-year-old local man was arrested in Dorchester Road on suspicion of criminal damage.
“He is assisting officers with their enquiries.”
It is hoped a proposed transformation of the train station - currently described as 'unattractive, unsafe and dull' - as part of a £600,000 project will help to curb anti-social behaviour in the area.
The railway station forecourt in King Street will be turned into a welcoming, colourful and attractive pedestrian-friendly space which may include some public art and more trees and flowers.
During the summer, Dorset Coast Forum – which is co-ordinating the Weymouth Station Gateway Project – asked residents and businesses to take part in an online survey ahead of the design process.
A consultation report based on the findings found that people didn't like the area because of anti-social behaviour and also that it was 'unattractive' 'unsafe' and 'dirty'.
One respondent said the town 'needed to promote its family-friendliness' to discourage public drinking and other unruly behaviour.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article