Hunstanton joke shop World Of Fun owner Paul Beal says police refused to attend suspected break-in

It was no laughing matter for the owner of a Hunstanton joke shop who says he was "ridiculed" by police who refused to attend a suspected break-in at his premises.

Paul Beal, who in January will complete 45 years at the World Of Fun business, in the middle of last Monday night was alerted to a possible problem at around 3.30am.

He went to the shop, near the Princess Theatre on St Edmund's Terrace, but as it was pitch-black and he has health problems he did not feel confident entering the premises alone and called the police who he says refused to attend.

It turned out to be a false alarm, but Mr Beal said: "I felt I was ridiculed by the operator who said only 'redcare-style' alarm monitoring security systems would receive a response otherwise they would not come around.

"You get the same excuse all the time: 'We haven't got the manpower.'

"I said I would complain, and she said 'do it'. I'm not very happy.

"My phone went off, which has the alarm attached to it, at 3.37am.

"I had to go around the back of my shop on my own. The back gate was open and perhaps something had set the trigger off. I had to go in to turn the alarm off. Do they want me to go around with a machete in my hand?

"I passed the police station, and I saw that there were police there.

"I've got a heart condition and prostate cancer, but we get no help. I think it's disgusting."

Mr Beal is concerned the public is not receiving enough in return for the tax they pay: "I've paid my money; the people have paid their money. We expect a service," he added.

"Let the people of West Norfolk stop paying their rates and see what happens.

"We used to have cups of tea and swap stories in the old days. Now you never see a police officer in my shop."

The Lynn News contacted Norfolk Police, who made the following comment: “All calls will be risk assessed as they come in.

“In this case we were called about an alarm sounding but there was no information of anyone at scene and no threat reported.”