I am starting this petition after an attempted abduction of my toddler from Queen Elizabeth Park (informally known as Fairfield Park), Toton Lane in Stapleford, Nottingham. People can also access this park from Brookhill Street and Eatons Road.

There has been two other attempted abductions in the past. This is THREE too many. 

The police have looked at CCTV but the woman was not found as there is nothing close enough to the park. 

So I am appealing to everyone to please put your signature down, share this a million times, let’s get to the target of 10,000 to get CCTV on our park that should be a safe place for our children to play, explore and enjoy as part of a positive childhood. Looking for conkers, practising the monkey bars and meeting friends to play football should all be part of our children’s lives. They have the right to access this environment safely. Yes we all look out for each other, I had a friend who was with me and I will be eternally grateful to her. However we need public surveillance security NOW. I am requesting 3 cameras - one for each entry/exit. Personally I don’t think that is a big ask considering the size of that open space. 

I have contacted the council and they told me (quote) ‘CCTV wouldn’t have stopped it from happening and you saw your child anyway’ - this is not the point and a completely ridiculous attitude to safeguarding our children. Is this what councils think to our children? And by extension the government?! It could deter the person or better still identify them. How can our police do their job without evidence? 

Why are the council ALLOWING this?

So please sign this so our park is a safer place to play, to take a picnic and make snow angels. Being happy and making memories is what life’s about, filling up your camera roll with funny photos and videos.

But what will happen next? Will the next abduction be successful? When will it be? Who will be? Who’s the 4th parent(s) to get calls from the victim support unit? Will they have to be prepared for a press conference pleading for their child back unharmed? These are scary and awful questions.

That day we were very lucky, we managed to have our daughter back home and able to watch her sleep in bed. I can’t (and don’t want to) imagine the heartbreak my family and I would have felt if she hadn’t had her ‘brown’(bunny comforter), head rested on her pillow and duvet keeping her warm and safe that night. What could have happened to her? 

Let’s get this done so we feel more secure as a community. We can use this petition to help secure our other parks in Broxtowe if it’s ever (unfortunately) needed. Every park would benefit from this, don’t feel you have to live in Stapleford or go to this exact park to sign.  Thankyou so much to everyone reading this. Together we can show the council ‘how we can stop it’ and help our hard working police do their job