Biggleswade families urge police and council for more security after vandals trash cemetery

Last Wednesday evening (July 29) families were saddened and angered to hear that about 15-20 plots had been desecrated, with flowers left strewn across the grass and ornaments smashed.

Heartbroken residents are now calling for more security to protect their loved ones, arguing that the cemetery has been a target for too long.

Kerry Dennis, 52, from Biggleswade, has her mother, brother, uncle, cousin and many other families members buried there. She said: “It was around 10pm and my partner and I jumped in the car. I’d got my phone torch but it was quite scary - we didn’t know if anyone would still be there.”

Kerry saw that the left-hand side of the cremation section had been targeted, and did her best to tidy up that night.

Her family members were left unaffected but the flowers at her partner’s aunt’s plot had been ripped out and thrown.

She said: “I was crying and I didn’t even know most of the people. It’s just heartbreaking.

“We think it’s kids that do it, but we don’t understand why, it beggar’s belief.”

Michelle Warwick, whose son William Stringer died aged 15 in 2013, also told the Chronicle that the vandalism has been going on for far too long, as she remembers her son’s plot being vandalised around five years ago.

Michelle, 43, from Biggleswade, said: “It was an absolute mess. Someone had thrown flowers, ornaments, and whoever it was had been stamping on it. There were also drugs on his grave. I was thinking, ‘Why? Why destroy it and break my heart?’”

After the latest incident, Michelle visited to find her son’s resting place was untouched, and checked those of other “devastated” families.

Resident Georgie Stackhouse, 21, who has a friend buried in the cemetery, claimed: “The vandalism has been going on for a few years now and each time it has happened many members of our community, including myself, have contacted our local council and the police, asking them both to take action on the situation, but unfortunately they haven’t and it honestly just seems like they are not at all bothered!

“We have made many requests, one being to have CCTV cameras, another to have a higher and secure wall built, and another to have the cemetery locked up at a certain time, but again that request has been put to one side.

“People’s relatives are in the cemetery so they can be at peace and it takes time and trust to place them there.

“I couldn’t let it rest. We can’t let this keep happening.”

The residents argue they deserve more security because the broken ornaments cost money - and say that even gravestones have been smashed in the past.

Michelle also claims that after her son’s resting place was vandalised she was informed by the police that they would patrol the cemetery, yet to her knowledge a patrol has not taken place.

The Chronicle was informed of claims the police will not investigate the damage to all the family’s plots; it was alleged they would only investigate damage to all the gravestones if it was reported by each individual family.

Kerry added: “If there was a committee formed [to protect the cemetery] or anything like that, I would be more than happy to join. We need some security.”

A Biggleswade Town Council spokesman, said: “We were sorry to hear about the vandalism which has taken place recently at Stratton Way Cemetery.

“Our team were out first thing the following morning and established that, although no graves were smashed, flowers and ornaments had been scattered around. All has been repaired and tidied up.

“The works manager reported the incident to the police who did go up there that same day.

“Regular inspections of the cemetery are undertaken by council staff. There is no history of any significant or regular vandalism in at least the last two years. However, we do understand how upsetting it must be for relatives and that such actions are totally disrespectful.”

Inspector Nick Masters, from the central north Neighbourhood Policing team, said: “We received a report of suspicious activity in Stratton Way Cemetery in Biggleswade on July 29.

“Officers attended and no damage to the gravestones was discovered. We are working with the local council to resolve this issue and we will increase local patrols to tackle further anti-social behaviour in this area.

“We understand that this is an extremely distressing incident for families and loved ones.

“We would like to encourage residents to report any suspicious or anti-social behaviour to us using our online reporting tool or through the local council.”

Georgie added: “I’m glad to know that the council and the police are aware about it, but it was Kerry who took time out of her own life to tidy up and we are so thankful.

“In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been, it’s the fact that it keeps on happening.

“It’s getting beyond a joke now.”

>https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/report/Report