Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid backs members bill to tackle war memorial vandalism
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DAVID Duguid MP has supported introducing specific laws aimed at preventing war memorials from being vandalised.
The Banff and Buchan MP has backed Scottish Conservative plans to introduce specific laws aimed at preventing war memorials from being vandalised in the north east.
The member’s bill which would bring Scotland in line with England and Wales, where an offence of damaging war memorials was incorporated into this year’s Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Act.
A charge of criminal damage anywhere in the UK carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Attacks on war memorials have increased in the last decade and Mr Duguid believes the bill from colleague Megan Gallacher would act as a tough deterrent to those who desecrate memorials.
Mr Duguid, who recently backed an initiative from the Imperial War Museum to document war memorials across the United Kingdom, said: “War memorials are at the very heart of our communities across Banff and Buchan and we must ensure that they are better protected going forward.
“That’s why I’m delighted that my colleague Meghan Gallacher has brought forward this Member’s Bill designed to do just that.
“Current laws are clearly not enough of a deterrent against would-be vandals of memorials in Aberdeenshire but the amendments included in these proposals would be a very positive step forward.
“Attacks on war memorials across Scotland have steadily increased over the last decade and that is hugely upsetting for people in areas such as Banff and Buchan, especially those with loved ones named on these tributes to our fallen war heroes.
“With this bill already enjoying cross-party support, I hope it can become law as quickly as possible to offer better protection to much loved war memorials across the north-east.”
