VANDALS who caused heartache for local residents with Father’s Day attack on an Evesham cemetery have been branded ‘mindless’ by the town’s mayor.
Coun Mark Goodge spoke out after the attack between 3am and 5.30am on Sunday (June 16) at St Andrews Parish Church Cemetery on Pershore Road.
An unknown number of offenders entered the cemetery and caused extensive damage to a number of graves.
Insp Andy Smith from West Mercia Police said: “This was a senseless act that has caused a great deal of distress to the local community, particularly being Father’s Day, with a number of people expected to visit the cemetery to pay their respects to their loved ones.
“While investigations are ongoing, local officers have been patrolling the area making door-to-door enquiries and offering reassurance to the local community.
“We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and I would urge anyone with any information to contact my local policing team as soon as possible to allow us to take appropriate action.”
Coun Goodge expressed his sadness after the attack which saw flowers pulled up on a number of graves and wooden crosses and ornaments picked up and thrown about.
A member of the Town Council’s staff and PCSO’s were on hand on Sunday to help replant and tidy up the cemetery as well as to reassure members of the public. Whilst mourners were upset there was also a community spirit in defiance of these actions.
“I was very saddened to hear about the mindless vandalism that took place at Hampton Cemetery. As is often the case the actions of a few have a big impact, however, I was encouraged to hear about the sense of defiance from those present that they would not let this get them down,” Coun Goodge said.
“I would also like to thank the members of the public, West Mercia Police, a fellow councillor and a member of Town Council staff who all attended on Sunday to help tidy up and replant.”
Town Clerk Stuart Carter stressed there was neither damage to headstones nor any attempt to damage headstones and that the cemetery was now fully tidied.
It was also highlighted this was an isolated incident and that there had been no reports of vandalism in Hampton Cemetery for many years.
The Town Council will liaise with the police going forward as they pursue their lines of inquiry.
Anyone with any information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101 quoting incident number 211s of 16 June or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
