The leader of Ripon City Council has expressed his shock and anger after a swastika and other hateful symbols were daubed on graves.
As we reported earlier, police are investigating after the gravestones in the cemetery on Kirkby Road in Ripon were targeted.
As well as the Nazi symbol, the perpetrator scrawled ‘Z’ – the symbol on Russian weaponry used against Ukraine – and ‘IRA’ on the stones.
North Yorkshire Police said that people in the city would be “shocked by these instances of vandalism”.
But Ripon council leader Andrew Williams went further.
He told David Dunning on YorkMix Radio: “This isn’t as the police describe an act of vandalism. This in my view is simple desecration of war graves in the cemetery and needs to be treated as such.
“And if the individuals can be apprehended, then they need to be prosecuted in that manner, rather than for an act of vandalism.
“This is disgusting, that people who’ve served and died in the service of their country have their graves desecrated in this manner.”
Police say they are increasing patrols around cemeteries in the Ripon area. And they are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch – details below.
How to help the police
- Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Katie Bell
- Email Katie Bell here
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the website
- Quote reference number 12220048095
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