Lock Them Up
Duncan Barkes argues that harsher penalties are the only way to deter criminals from vandalising war memorials.
7 Nov 2011, 16:50
Metal theft at a Southampton memorial
Thefts of war memorials have doubled since last year. Official figures now show that a war memorial is stolen or vandalised once every two days in Britain.
The Prime Minister has said he is looking at legislation for the scrap metal industry to stop this happening. But let’s not muck about here. The quickest and simplest way to stop these abhorrent acts is to stick the perpetrators in the clink for ninety days.
Recent reports of memorials being attacked upset me greatly; last week in Southampton a sixteen-year old boy was arrested for committing the most unforgivable act of vandalism on the cenotaph in the city. The memorial had excrement smeared over it and was daubed with a four foot high swastika.
What an atrocious display of contempt and disrespect, not just for the millions of men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but for the rest of society. You may not agree with a particular war having been fought, but to defile these monuments is not only unforgivable but also cowardly; those to whom such memorials are dedicated cannot fight back.
War is not a pretty subject to teach in schools, or even for society to acknowledge. But whatever your political beliefs, surely it is only right that children and teenagers are taught not just about the politics of war, but about the millions of lives that have been lost in conflict. Just maybe this would make would-be-vandals think twice before desecrating war memorials.
No doubt some sandal wearing, yoghurt-knitting, tofu-munching sociologist is already enthusiastically writing a paper about why today’s society does not accord proper respect to our war dead. I couldn’t care less. Some behaviour and actions are simply inexcusable.
The only way to stop the violation of war memorials is to issue harsh penalties. I would have no problem with locking up adults or teenagers who were caught and convicted of carrying out such acts. This approach should extend to the scrap metal industry. The trade must now be so rife with dealers turning a blind eye when some hoodlum rolls up with a plaque under his arm or hidden in his hoody that they must be developing appalling squints.
I fail to see why we are mucking about on this issue. Why don’t we just speak to the offending scum in a language they can understand and have ex-soldiers protecting local war memorials? Then give them carte blanche to deal out rough justice to any delinquents caught trashing both the physical monument and the memories it represents.
And before anyone starts chuntering, as a general rule I abhor violent retaliation. In this sickening instance, however, I will make an absolute exception.
Comments (3)
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Is there actually any evidence that vandals/metal-thieves in this context are not receiving custodial sentences (which are the harshest British law permits)? The assumption behind the article seems to be that they are not, but there is no evidence presented. Not even of the celebrated "single-case which must prove a trend" type so common among journalists.
"The only way to stop the violation of war memorials is to issue harsh penalties." The usual mistake - before achieving this is the rather necessary step of actually catching someone. Detection rates for metal thefts are low, even for the poor standards of the British police forces, probably because it is not a type of crime with which they are especially used to dealing.
08/11/2011 09:48John is right. There are not lots of war memorial metal thieves being let of with slaps on the wrist, they are just not being caught.
08/11/2011 14:21War Memorial thieves have struck in East Anglia! One of the more private ones has been raided... Poppies have been burnt, and all of the gold leaf has been chiseled off! All of the jugs have gone too, most of them expensive, and the flowers have been left there, so the thieves must have a concience!
Sorry about spellings, I'm in a hurry to leave for dance lessons!
Dan Theecan
10/11/2011 16:43dantheecan@hotmail.co.uk