Statement on Facebook from Three Rivers Police
On Sunday 13 April, we were informed of widespread damage to 85 grave plaques in Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, all of which are in an area reserved for Muslim burials. Many of the graves affected are the resting places of babies and young children.
Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson, head of Hertfordshire’s Local Policing Command, said:
We are continuing to investigate every line of enquiry into this terrible crime, which we are now treating as an Islamophobic act.
During the initial stages of our investigation we explored several hypotheses as to how the damage may have occurred and for this reason, we had to be mindful of the words used to describe the incident in the public domain.
However, now our inquiry has progressed we are confident that sadly, this was a religiously motivated act. We would like to reassure those affected, and the wider Muslim community, that we are continuing to treat this crime extremely seriously.
The investigation team continues to liaise with Brent Council, which owns the cemetery site off Oxhey Lane, as they work to identify the families whose loved ones’ graves have been targeted. Senior police officers and the investigation team have been working closely with Sergeant Irfan Ishaq, Chair of the Hertfordshire Association of Muslim Police (HAMP), to assist with communication to the county’s Muslim community.
Sergeant Ishaq said:
Since the news of this religiously motivated act reached our Muslim communities, I have been listening to and recording their feedback and concerns. We completely understand their frustration at the delay in confirming it as a hate crime and stand with them in their condemnation of this dreadful incident.
I’m sure the public can appreciate that as police, it is important for us to approach every incident reported to us with an open mind to ensure an unbiased and fair investigation.
Our focus remains identifying the families of those whose graves have been affected so we can provide support and advice, and our partners at Brent Council are assisting us with this. Given the number of graves involved, and the fact that many of the families affected may no longer live locally, we anticipate that this will take some time as we continue to be sensitive and respectful in our work.
We recognise that news of this crime will not only impact the Muslim community, but those from all walks of life. There will continue to be a police presence in and around the cemetery to reassure our community and provide advice where needed. In addition, a further community leaders meeting is being held tomorrow (Wednesday 16 April) to keep our Muslim community informed.
We are continuing to appeal to the public for information in relation to this crime, which occurred between 1pm on Friday 11 April and 5pm on Saturday 12 April.
Anyone who saw any suspicious activity in or around the cemetery between these times, or believes they have information about who is responsible, should contact Detective Sergeant Anna Cornish on anna.cornish@herts.police.uk, quoting ‘Op Lunate’.
You can report information online at https://orlo.uk/1iO6G, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at https://orlo.uk/GTSX0 or call the non-emergency number 101.
Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
8 comments:
When all the other grave’s where vandalised and robbed a few years ago” Catholic & non catholic area…“Harrow/Brent council didn’t want to know or acknowledge that there was a problem!!
My Mother’s grave..along with other graves in the vicinity …were vandalised and robbed of sentimental items…when reported to the powers that be..sod all was done about it!!…
All i got acknowledgement was “oh we can’t do anything about it as there are no patrols around the cemetery!!
People pay “thousands of pounds” to lay their loved ones to rest in peace!! Now all of a sudden it’s come to light that the Muslim community have been targeted and it’s all over the media!!
I am sorry to hear that happened to you. Hopefully the media spotlight on this case will lead to measures that will protect ALL graves at the cemetery. As the police acknowledge the fact that only Muslim graves were targeted means that this was specifically an act of religious prejudice.
Brent Green Party agrees to support the Stand Up To Racism statement re * THE DESECRATION OF GRAVES IN THE MUSLIM SECTION OF CARPENDERS PARK LAWN CEMETERY*.
My sympathies to the families affected by this but I agree with the comment above as this was an issue brought up several times at Wembley forums - in particular one lady who told of regular vandalisms at the RC cemetery where her husband had been laid to rest. The Councillors at the time were very unsympathetic and NOTHING was done. Religion, colour or race shouldn’t come into it - any desecration of graves should be taken seriously whether it’s one or many. Indeed, ALL graves should be protected.
What will Brent Green Party do about Carpenders Park and the groundskeepers employed by Brent Council who are known to damage graves?
I believe that grounds are maintained by Brent's contractor Continental Landscapes after Veolia relinquished the contract. Are the problems since the takeover or did they exist before?
Walked through St John's Churchyard in Wembley yesterday and the beautiful Victorian statue of a veiled lady on one of the graves near the church has had eye shadow and lipstick added to her face 😡
This is criminal damage and 100% desecration of a grave but will this be investigated by the police???
First step is to ascertain whether it has been reported to the police.
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