A recreation ground battling anti-social behaviour will now have CCTV installed permanently.

There had long been calls to reinstall CCTV cameras in Rainham Recreation Ground, particularly after a spate of reports of violence, drug use and vandalism, last year.

Concerns about anti-social behaviour were raised after a boy was assaulted by two younger children at the recreation ground in August.

The boy's mum said at the time: "We would never ever go back to that park. I'd already heard a lot about it, and heard several incidents before this.

"I don't know if I want to live here anymore. I've lived in Rainham all my life, but it's not nice that this can happen 10 minutes away from our house. I'm sad my child can't go to the park and just be safe."

Another Rainham mum said at the time her two children were afraid of going to the park after one of them found canisters on the ground, and the other witnessed an older child being attacked.

In October, a petition to install CCTV in the park gained traction, and Medway Council revealed it would install two rapid deployment cameras in Rainham Recreation Ground for 12 weeks to monitor its effect on crime rates.

Results of subsequent six month trials have seen a drop in crime and anti-social behaviour, with instances of drug taking, including nitrous oxide, dropping significantly.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “Following residents’ concerns, and a trial period, the Medway Community Safety Partnership has installed two CCTV cameras in Rainham Recreation Ground to help deter anti-social behaviour.

“We would encourage residents to continue to report anti-social behaviour to the police.”

Stuart Bourne, local Lib Dem campaigner and member of the Friends of Rainham Recreation Ground, said: “It doesn’t take much to realise that the park’s anti-social problems can be reduced with the addition of CCTV.

“We are delighted that the council is now agreeing with us and that the CCTV is here to stay.

“This is a great victory for all those who signed the petitions and made their voice heard. This a victory for the community and common sense.”

In 2021 a petition to reinstall CCTV in the park, headed by nearby St Margaret’s Church vicar Rev Nathan Ward, was rejected by the council due to a lack of resources to fund the security measure.

A permanent CCTV camera in the park had previously been taken down for financial reasons.