Police Act on War Memorial Vandalism Reports
By StaineSiobhan | Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 14:43
Following reports here and in local papers, Staines police are seeking information on the thugs who wrecked the wreath display at the war memorial.
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Wreaths were replaced.
Here's the information:
Police appeal for information following a mindless act of criminal damage.
Spelthorne Police are appealing to the public for information following reports of criminal damage at the war memorial in Market Square, Staines last week.
The incident occurred overnight between 11pm on Wednesday 17 November and 7am on Thursday 18 November, when poppy wreaths and crosses were removed from the memorial area and dumped in a gated off area nearby.
Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team and wardens from Spelthorne Borough Council attended the scene to place the wreaths and crosses back around the memorial and to tidy up the area. Police are investigating this offence and are following up several lines of enquires.
Neighbourhood Specialist Officer for Staines Town, PC Samantha Coleman who went down to the memorial to assess and tidy up the damage said, “This was a mindless act by people who show no respect for those who have fought for their country and we will do everything we can to find the suspects and bring them to justice for this heartless offence.
“Although we have not received any reports of similar incidents we are taking this damage very seriously. I would urge anyone who may have witnessed this or who may have any information to contact Surrey Police by phoning 0845 125 2222 quoting reference SL/10/9083.”
Call 0845 125 2222 for all non-emergency policing matters.
Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (eg a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger).
Call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have information about crime and don't want to leave your name.
Comments
I'm so pleased to see the police are investigating this so thoroughly and that local neighbourhood and council officers have taken the time to tidy up the memorial. I was just so cross about this. I really hope they find the people who did this - I think as punishment they should send them to Afghanistan to fight alongside our brave soldiers. Maybe then they might realise how lucky they are and give our war heroes the respect they deserve.
By MelBattams at 16:42 on 26/11/10
ReportHa ha! Not to worry. Thanks for your thoughts.
By StaineSiobhan at 19:12 on 25/11/10
ReportThink I got a bit worked up with my rant and all the elevens!!!
By MIKENEWS at 18:16 on 25/11/10
ReportHear hear, Mike. Although, I don't think it's 100 years of Armistice Day until 2018?
By StaineSiobhan at 18:20 on 24/11/10
ReportIt is sad that a couple of people act in such a way but it shouldn’t detract from the progress that has been made across the country in previous years. About the only good thing to have come out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that it has made all of us (with the exception of the two idiots at the Staines memorial) think about the sacrifice others made and continue to make for our freedoms and beliefs.
You don’t have to be too old to recall a time when Remembrance Sunday, and Armistice Day in particular, weren’t marked by the majority. Thankfully, perhaps for the wrong reasons, that is no longer the case. As for the anger that we all feel towards these two people, the best we can all do is channel our efforts towards marking next year’s important date: once again it will be the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, of the eleventh year. It would good to see extra special efforts put towards marking the 100th anniversary of what was meant to be the war to end all wars.
By MIKENEWS at 17:20 on 24/11/10
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