Young ‘lack respect for war memorials’ (From Witney Gazette)

Young ‘lack respect for war memorials’

9:30am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Tom Jennings, covering Witney and West Oxfordshire. Call me on 01865 425403

Witney Mayor Harry Eaglestone at the damaged war memorial

A VETERAN has criticised police for not taking stronger action against a teenager who damaged a war memorial.

A 16-year-old from the Witney area has admitted standing on chains surrounding the Witney monument with friends, causing a pillar to collapse.

He contacted police on February 26 and has been given a youth restorative disposal agreement, which usually takes the form of an apology.

The pillar was irreparably damaged, but North Leigh-based OG Stonemasonry has agreed to repair the Church Green memorial free of charge .

Royal British Legion county chairman Jim Lewendon said: “An apology does not seem like much.

“It was disrespectful to damage the war memorial, which represents the thousands of men and women who gave their lives so that these people can live in the safety they do.

“A bit of community work, perhaps cleaning the war memorial, would have given them some sort of punishment to make them realise what it is all about.”

He added: “I think there probably is a lack of respect among the young these days. They seem to have lost the respect for war memorials they had.”

Police were last night unable to give more details of the disposal agreement.