SCHOOL pupils claim they are afraid of being robbed or attacked in Valentines Park.

The revelation was made to police at a meeting in Cranbrook ward.

The year 10 pupils at Valentines High School, in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, form the borough's first junior ward panel, appointed to communicate the fears young people have to the police Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Their comments allow the police to rank their targets in order of importance to youths, and crime in the park has emerged as the most pressing issue.

PC Darren Smith said: "Fear of crime in and around the park is mostly, just a fear. Someone hears someone has been robbed and it gets around the school, so people are afraid to go to the park.

"But we want these kids in the park, we want them using the park, because the more people in the park, the less chance of crime."

Parks Police officer John Boylin said crime in the park was lower than ever because of CCTV covering the central cafe area, and works around Valentines Mansion.

He said: "When you look at the reality the figures are actually very low, and the detection rate has improved. Robberies in the park have dropped right off."

Valentines Park had four crimes reported in January; a robbery, an aggravated common assault, a cannabis related offence and sexual assault of a young boy, but in three of the cases the culprits were dealt with by police.

In December there were just three reported crimes in the park; all were cannabis-related and police spoke to all the culprits.