Last updated at 14:05, Tuesday, 19 June 2012

SECURITY must be stepped up to stop thefts from a cemetery, a group has claimed.

Residents whose loved ones are buried at Barrow Cemetery have called for new measures to prevent thefts after 121 plaques were taken from the graveyard during the Easter weekend.

Wendy Egerton, whose grandson is buried in the cemetery, has been campaigning for two years to improve security and said the latest thefts could have been prevented if the council had acted sooner.

Mrs Egerton said: “We had a meeting with the police where it was agreed that we could have anti-vandal paint, and I was told the council were waiting for better weather to carry out the work.

“Now the council has turned round and said it wouldn’t deter people. People are up in arms and getting mad.

“There are constantly people going over the wall. Quite a few of us have had to spend our own money on replacing items that have been stolen, but the council is not willing to spend their money protecting the cemetery.”

A Facebook group calling for better security now has more than 5,000 members and Mrs Egerton, of St Luke’s Avenue, in Barrow, said members will continue to patrol the area until security is improved.

Mr Johnson said: “Barrow Borough Council takes the matter of security within Barrow Cemetery seriously.

“It should be noted however, that the cemetery is a large and dispersed area and as such is difficult to police and make secure. The gates are locked at dusk, and there is no staffing outside day work hours.

“We recognise that incidents of vandalism and theft are highly distressing to the families concerned, but we maintain that these are isolated incidents.

“We are in regular contact with our partners Cumbria Constabulary in a joint approach to ensure anti-social behaviour of any kind in the Cemetery is minimised.

“This year, Barrow police have given advice to children who had been disturbing mementos in the children’s area, and these young people have been given restorative justice direction.

“The cemetery manager has also been in regular contact with the local schools. The council has considered the use of anti-vandal paint but has concluded that it would not deter those people who are committed to using the cemetery as a short cut.”

First published at 13:24, Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk