Vandals have desecrated Teesside war memorials – by urinating on them, fighting and spraying sickening Nazi graffiti.
As the nation gathers to remember those who died for our country, new information released under the Freedom of Information Act shows Cleveland Police investigated 53 incidents at war monuments over the last three years.
A swastika was discovered on the Linthorpe Cemetery war memorial, Middlesbrough, in June 2011, with BNP graffiti found on a nearby baby memorial on the same day.
Three people were arrested for urinating on the Victoria Road monument in Hartlepool, with another two arrested for fighting at the site in February 2012.
Police were also alerted after a girl ran into a nearby pub after being assaulted by youths at the memorial.
Joan Murray, Hartlepool branch secretary for the Royal British Legion, said: “This shows complete and utter disrespect.
“I think it’s highlighted more this year because it’s the 100th anniversary.
“Not everyone agrees with commemorating soldiers, but at the same time it’s very sad that this happens.”
In Stockton, police received five separate reports of anti-social behaviour, including people riding bikes, drinking and dumping a vandalised trolley on the memorial.
Derek Lewis, chair of the Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery who will parade through Middlesbrough in remembrance today, expressed his regret about the incidents in what he feels is normally a well-respected cemetery.
He said: “It just shouldn’t happen, but it’s just the way things are these days.
“We need to make sure that young ones are still interested in the commemoration of the soldiers who died for our country.”
The information released details all incidents reported to police over the last three years, and reveals that of the 53 incidents, Cleveland Police made seven arrests.
As well as the incidents of anti-social behaviour and vandalism, the report also revealed that police were called out to a man sitting at the monument – making a cross for his dead father.
When police spoke to the man at the Albert Park monument in Middlesbrough in September 2011, he said he had wanted “somewhere quiet to sit” while he made a cross for his father’s grave.
No comments:
Post a Comment