How do you deter vandalism?

[TheOutpatient]

I definitely think vandalism has stopped us from getting certain theming elements.
All I can say is, step up the fines, the amount/boldness of signs and the language used on them.

Personally, if I see a sign in a new dark ride that says "YOU WILL PAY FOR ANYTHING YOU VANDALIZE" - I would not interpret that in any negative way because I can understand exactly why such a sign is necessary and I think much of the public would feel the same.

I think we haven't seen this yet because Merlin is worried about seeming like "big brother" and all legalistic but to me it wouldn't matter.
What would you think?
And do you have ideas about this aswell?

[Lee]

If I saw a sign saying the above, I'd be very disappointed - It's very threatening.

People who vandalize don't really care about the consequences. In general, Merlin parks don't suffer too badly from it, so it;s not really a big issue.

[TheOutpatient]

I think they do suffer.
I don't know if the HH is still this bad (I was trying to relax last time I went  ) but you see everything's been spat on, the lunatic has lost his fingers countless times and somehow the undertaker as well! I don't think you can even reach him from the car. I wonder if it's a reaction to fear as well...

[Jammydodger]

They need to pinpoint two or three vandals in the act and make an example of them. They're well within their rights to prosecute for vandalism. It won't be long until word of mouth spreads and people get scared to do it. Most of the culprits are little brats that are very impressionable.

Of course that requires effort, and we all know how Merlin feel about putting actual effort in to things.

[Themeparksandy1981]

Drayton Manor did this they put signs up on most attractions saying you be kicked out the park and told to pay costs. You were filmed and guests still wrote around the sign so theses signs do nothing unless the parks add queueline cameras and watch them from the moment the queue line is opened to the last guest has been on the ride.

[TheOutpatient]

That makes me think, what is needed is a computer programme that works with the CCTV footage. Something like this: It alerts a human (staff) when it sees people reaching/jumping over fences/bars etc. You set boundaries on the screen and when it sees human movement outside of the boundary it calls for a person to watch. The toughest part will be making it ignore the movement of ride cars and theming but with today's technology should still be simple. Maybe it would look for the 4 limbs of a person. The way I see it, if you've got facial recognition software, you can definitely have person recognition.

[Jamie]

They need to be stricter on things like this.
I would consider having signs around the park advising that anyone caught defacing part of the park will be ejected.
I know it sounds harsh, but there is no room for people like that at theme parks (or anywhere for that matter).

[Themeparksandy1981]

The cheapest thing is to text a number with area code,the problem and what they were wearing so CCTV can try to find them and inform ride staff about the problem. Security would then meet them as there just about to get on the ride. The biggest problem is smoking I bet only 5 to 10% of guests use the correct smoking area's.

[Mark.aa]

They had a queue jumping and trouble making deterrent signs at thorpe in the queue for saw last time I went .
saying quote this area code( section of queue) and a text number for people to text to if they had seen queue jumpers or trouble in queue line .
The Whole area is hidden behind the station building.
I would hope if they recived a text security would review CCTV camera footage for that area and time before text set to identify to culprits and security to escort them from park.

Have seen people escorted from the park single people and small groups regularly in the summer,mostly chavs and pikeys.(. They jump the fence)
Mostly down the Side of loggers leap from public lane.ride has to shut down as security catch them.(there biggest and fittest)as staff call them!

That's why thorpes security dress like sub terra staff/swat to look like a deterrent and work in numbers
Legolands just have blue jumpers instead of red as less trouble.
Thorpes security patrol in pairs and normaly have 5 staff or more to eject trouble makers.

[cookiee_munster]

I quite like the whole texting thing. Only problem would be they'd have to have some kind of proof, otherwise if someone was reported with a red hoodie or something, security could mistake them and throw out a total innocent...

That would be my only concern with this anyway, unless of course they still install cameras in the areas too. That way, security can watch over footage to validate the vandal.

It's not just here in the UK it happens, it happens all over the place like Disney World and Disneyland. I read a review somewhere that in Tokyo Disney Land/DisneySea, the locals touch NOTHING. It's as if the park always remains looking as new as when it opened.

[tallicay2k]

They had a queue jumping and trouble making deterrent signs at thorpe in the queue for saw last time I went .
saying quote this area code( section of queue) and a text number for people to text to if they had seen queue jumpers or trouble in queue line .
The Whole area is hidden behind the station building.
I would hope if they recived a text security would review CCTV camera footage for that area and time before text set to identify to culprits and security to escort them from park.

Have seen people escorted from the park single people and small groups regularly in the summer,mostly chavs and pikeys.(. They jump the fence)
Mostly down the Side of loggers leap from public lane.ride has to shut down as security catch them.(there biggest and fittest)as staff call them!

That's why thorpes security dress like sub terra staff/swat to look like a deterrent and work in numbers
Legolands just have blue jumpers instead of red as less trouble.
Thorpes security patrol in pairs and normaly have 5 staff or more to eject trouble makers.

Funny you should say that...last time I went to TP I was in the nemesis inferno queue when all of a sudden over the loud speaker I heard a member of staff shout "To the two guys who have just jumped over the queue fence would they leave the ride as you will not ride, we know who you are" out of confusion and looking around about 2 mins later 2 blokes started walking out of the queue.
The heckling they got was hilarious...

[Lee]

Can we please keep this topic related to vandalism. Whilst I agree queue jumping is irritating, it's not relevant to the topic at hand

Thanks

[Shutterbug]

They do watch people in the queue lines...I don't know if this comes under vandalism but when I went in September an announcement came over The Smiler queue-line to ask people not to urinate in the queue and to ask a member of staff where the nearest toilets are....and that they hoped they washed their hands 

[Ripsaw Raver]

Find the vandal, subdue the vandal..dispose of the vandal...that vandal can never return...ok so maybe im a little draconian on that front. but seriosly for AT point of view... Dont fill your queues with stickers! All scenery should be out of reach ie marmaliser legs, its such a shame to see taging on the smiler supports allready

[tallicay2k]

They do watch people in the queue lines...I don't know if this comes under vandalism but when I went in September an announcement came over The Smiler queue-line to ask people not to urinate in the queue and to ask a member of staff where the nearest toilets are....and that they hoped they washed their hands 

How disgusting, who in thier right mind would do that in the queueline?
It's not exactly a secluded queue line either.

[Shutterbug]

They do watch people in the queue lines...I don't know if this comes under vandalism but when I went in September an announcement came over The Smiler queue-line to ask people not to urinate in the queue and to ask a member of staff where the nearest toilets are....and that they hoped they washed their hands 

How disgusting, who in thier right mind would do that in the queueline?
It's not exactly a secluded queue line either.

Some people just don't care and do some disgusting things. Something tells me they won't have been the only person ever either...if they could see them doing it then don't understand why they didn't eject them from the park either. Think they really need to start being more firm.

[TheOutpatient]

weeing in the que line, I guess is not as bad tearing up something that was nailed/glued down...I mean suppose. ew.
I hope it was a joke.
I just wish the Phalanx would stop weeing in the lifts (of course they don't really, but I had a good suspension of disbelief). Seriously though..

The texting thing is a good idea. As far as I know CCTV footage is stored for a while and then taped after a month or so, if no one reports anything. The cameras do need to be facing the right way. One thing this does, is allow people to get away from the vandal before texting so they don't need to do it infront of them.

You can see the effect of vandalism in the HH que line - some porcelain stuff was removed (cant remember what it was but it was glued down). The theming of Hex is all at a good distance from the railings and in the indoor bit of tomb blaster, the market bit - you can see stuff has been removed, possibly even stolen as a kind of memento, which is silly because if you do that, you deface the ride you want to remember.

[Adam.W]

I've also noticed that some of the things in duel are very close to the car, I'm suprised that it hasn't been destroyed or taken. For example, there's some beasts and spiders that hang down, and other than them, you could easily grab something from the edge of the ride...

[mark_h]

It would be possible to have some items fitted with sensors, so that if they are touched or moistened (spat upon) it would alert the ride staff to check the CCTV, including following the guest trip through the ride to catch any other offences to provide evidence.

Having a strict policy of removal/banning from the park without any refund (at a minimum) would discourage others from offending.


For less major offences (such as smoking in inappropriate locations) the offender should be given the option of being marked (using indefinable ink similar to that used in some countries to track voters) or leaving the park. A second offence would result in removal.

[TheOutpatient]

good call mark. I agree with you, that would be good.