Pebble attack rocks officers in Calne (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pebble attack rocks officers in Calne

6:00pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in News By Anne Moore

Sergeant Phil Connor has issued a warning condemning abusive behaviour towards the police following two separate incidents in Calne town centre last weekend.

Sgt Connor narrowly escaped an injury at 9.35pm on August 11 after two large stones hit the side of the police building, in Silver Street, where he was standing with police force pastor Mike Dickinson.

“Two huge missiles came flying at the police station, big round pebbles the size of metal boules,” said Sgt Conn-or, who was standing with his back to the road at the time.

“They smashed into the side of the building and missed us by about six feet.”

“We heard a loud crack,” said Mr Dickinson, who has volunteered as a chaplain at the station for two years.

“As soon as it happened we went out together to see if we could see anyone but it was pretty dark by then.”

The police are appealing for witnesses who may have been walking or driving past at the time.

Both pebbles have been sent for forensic examination, to see if they contain DNA which will match up with police records.

Sgt Connor, who has been a police officer for 15 years, said although officers have been targeted in the past this incident was different.

He believes the offender may have hidden in the bushes 30 metres away, and thinks the suspect may have some experience of throwing heavy weights due to the accuracy of the shots and the distance involved.

Police officers also faced abusive behaviour on patrol in Calne later in the evening. During a separate incident, at 11pm, a group of youths in the town centre, aged 15-20, began shouting at them.

Four males were arrested on Church Street. Three of these were kept overnight, at Melksham police station, where they were each fined £85 under Section Five of the Public Order Act.

Sgt Connor said his team was taking action against behaviour like this. They are working closely with the ASBO team in Chippenham, Monkton Park, and are sending letters home to parents.

Anyone with information about the first incident outside the station can call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.