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A statue of the beloved children’s character Paddington bear has once again been removed from its bench in Southampton’s Guildhall Square shortly after being reinstalled. This follows earlier vandalism that led to the destruction of the bench on which Paddington sat, prompting a temporary removal of the sculpture in April. After repairs were completed and the statue restored to its place last week, it was reported missing in the early hours of Sunday.
Hampshire Constabulary responded to the incident after a report was made about the statue’s disappearance. Fortunately, officers located Paddington abandoned but unharmed in a nearby location, East Park. The police described the bear’s recovery on social media, noting that he was “given a police escort while arrangements were made for his return” and emphasized that he “certainly needed a marmalade sandwich after his ordeal.”
The police message also conveyed a serious reminder about respect for public property, despite the light-hearted nature of the Paddington figure. “While we know Paddington is a much-loved character and this may raise a smile, damage to public property is a serious offence,” they said. The statue is valued for bringing joy to local residents, visitors, families, and businesses around the city centre, making the repeated targeting of the character particularly disappointing. Officers urged the public to “please look after Paddington. He is a bear of very good standing in our city.”
Paddington’s statue arrived in Southampton in 2024 as part of a UK-wide trail celebrating the film “Paddington in Peru.” Initially placed outside Westquay shopping centre, the 3ft 6in (1m) sculpture was later relocated to Guildhall Square. GO! Southampton, the Business Improvement District organization in charge of the city centre, oversees the statue’s care and had been holding the bear safely in its offices while the bench underwent restoration
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