There are calls for a heightened police presence in a town amid reports of a worrying trend of kids damaging property and animals with catapults and posting it online.

Residents in Paddock Wood say they are bearing witness to “more and more” anti-social behaviour and yet “never see the police”.

It comes after officers seized two catapults and 62 ball bearings from two boys of secondary school age on April 19, following reports they were using them to target wildlife.

Witnesses also alleged the catapult had been aimed at car windows with an investigation into the circumstances ongoing.

Following increased reports of the use of the hand-held weapon in the small town KentOnline went to speak to residents to hear of their concerns.

Some we spoke to said they believed the rise in catapult related incidents was connected to a “TikTok trend” where young people film themselves firing ball bearings at animals and post it online.

Others also said children were able to easily access slingshots on the web without restrictions and at little cost.

Paul Keeble, of Ringden Avenue, had his car windscreen smashed on April 14 and reported the incident to the police.

Despite this, the 57-year-old says he does not expect to hear anything back.

He said: “Petty crime levels as well as more serious things like knife crime are on the increase in Paddock Wood since the town has got bigger and the police station was closed.

“I was annoyed about the incident as it cost me money to repair which I couldn’t really afford, and I also lost a day’s holiday waiting home for the repair man.

“As a person who has lived here for the best part of 50 years, it’s sad to see it happening.”

Likewise, Jonathan Lawrence, came home one day in 2022, to find part of his outside window smashed with a BB sized hole and a ball bearing on the patio.

When he reported it to the police he was told there was no evidence or lines of inquiry they could pursue as there were no witnesses.

The 52-year-old said that while he doesn’t feel unsafe in the town, he is not happy about the standard of policing.

He added: “It would take a lot for me to now call the police about anything because they just don’t do anything.

“Unless it’s a really high impact crime you don’t see them respond – I’ve lost faith in the police to deal with lower-level crime.”

In data obtained by KentOnline through a Freedom of Information request, figures showed there were 12 recorded incidents of catapult offences in the Tunbridge Wells area in 2022, and five by June 26, 2023.

Updated figures have been requested for the rest of 2023 and 2024.

Debbie Golding, of Reins Close, Paddock Wood, says she had felt safe in the town up until recently.

She said: “We are getting more and more anti-social behaviour - older people are afraid to go out at night or go unaccompanied anywhere because you just never know who you are going to bump into.

“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid to go out at night, but it makes me afraid for my grandchildren.”

The 66-year-old, who works as a retail manager, says “police should make their presence more visible”.

“It starts with catapults and marbles through windows and at pigeons, but where is it going to end?” she added.

Figures on the police.uk website show the most commonly reported crimes for Paddock Wood West in February were violence and sexual offences (10 incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (six incidents) and vehicle crime (six incidents).

Shirley Lengkeith, 90, has lived in Paddock Wood for more 40 years and says the town has “changed a lot but not for the better” and "you never see the police".

She used to go for walks in Foal Hurst Wood but won’t go on her own anymore because she says she “wouldn’t feel safe”.

“I used to take my children up there and you were never worried about who you were going to see,” she added.

In response to this situation, MP for Tunbridge Wells Greg Clark has invited the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, to meet with him and local residents in Paddock Wood to “address these awful and cruel crimes”.

Mr Clark said: “I am very aware of this unacceptable situation in Paddock Wood - I have asked the police to increase their presence in Paddock Wood to drive out this behaviour.

“The borough council also have a role to play, and residents expressed the need for more CCTV cameras.”

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Scott told KentOnline local officers are working hard to catch those responsible by gathering intelligence and patrolling the area.

In a statement he said: “Kent Police are taking action to deal with this appalling behaviour.

“These crimes against the community and wildlife are unacceptable.

“I am absolutely committed to tackling antisocial behaviour and there will be more patrols to tackle hotspot areas in the months ahead.”

A spokesperson for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “The community safety unit is aware of recent incidents in Paddock Wood and rural areas of the borough, where catapults have been used by young people.

“We know that police took action over the past weekend and seized catapults off three people in Paddock Wood.

“Community Safety staff have also issued warning to young people in rural locations.”

Anyone with information which may assist the investigation should contact Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 19-0732.

On Friday, KentOnline also reported on the sad case of a family who were left devastated after their pet peacock was killed by youths who attacked it with a catapult.

CCTV from a neighbour captured the moment one of the suspect lifted up the peacock by its wings and is seen to hold the bird like a trophy, before another boy ripped out its feathers.