POLICE have told the Isle of Wight County Press that all calls are 'risk assessed before a deployment decision is made' and that units responded when they were able to, in answer to criticism over the way Hampshire Constabulary dealt with vandalism in broad daylight, at Sandown's Ocean Hotel.

Windows were smashed with rocks over the course of an hour, at the derelict accommodation on Sandown Esplanade.

Shattered window glass was filmed falling from the top floor, down to the car park below and the footage was shared on social media.

It was the second day of problems at the property and while a crowd gathered to watch, warning passers-by to take care of falling glass and stones, police officers took more than an hour to get there.

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Two people were spotted shouting obscenities and making rude gestures at onlookers, from a hotel balcony, a short time before two officers arrived yesterday evening (Sunday).

Later, Hampshire Constabulary said two boys, aged 13 and 14, had been removed from the premises and taken home.

In an unconnected incident, the County Press was told of items being thrown over a cliff in the town, earlier in the weekend.

Tourists also spoke of their horror when a glass bottle was thrown earlier this month (September).

A meeting of local leaders is scheduled to discuss the ongoing anti-social behaviour, on September, 22.

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What did Hampshire Constabulary say about the way it handled this weekend's vandalism at the Ocean Hotel?

"All calls that come into our control room are risk assessed before a deployment decision is made," said a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary.

"Deployments need to be assessed against certain criteria, such as whether a life is in danger, or there is serious risk of harm to the public.

"This is also balanced against whether units are available to respond, or whether all available units are already dealing with priority calls.

"A risk assessment will have been taken at the time of this incident, and police units deployed to deal with the situation when they were able to do so."

The former hotel was left in good order when it was bought by the Carlauren Group. The group announced plans to develop the site, but instead it lay empty and matters worsened when the Carlauren Group fell into liquidation.

The building's current owners have been served with a tidy up order, which they have been challenging in court.