hey don't be a complete a$$hole..stay off the damn monuments...

**skategeezer** · 11-18-2009 02:23 PM

As usual, the UK police go nuts...(hey, I am allowed to say this, I was born in the UK!) but please...skaters respect those damn war memorials!

Memorial skater' is arrested

HARTLEPOOL WAR MEMORIAL

Published Date: 17 November 2009

A TEENAGER has been arrested for allegedly skateboarding on a war memorial – despite repeated appeals to treat it with respect by the Army, war veterans and police.
The Army and officers from Hartlepool Police recently joined forces after vandals repeatedly targeted the stone plinth in the town's Victory Square.

Officers spoke of their disgust at yobs writing, skateboarding and urinating on the landmark and hoped their pleas to stop would be heeded.

But a 17-year-old was arrested on Sunday afternoon for allegedly using the memorial as a skateboarding track, just a week after Remembrance Sunday.

Acting Chief Inspector Tony Green, of Hartlepool Police, said: "I'm disappointed that despite repeated appeals some people still see fit to use our war memorial as a recreational area."

Ian Ashley – known in the skate fraternity as Toggles – from Clifton Avenue, in Hartlepool, was brought before the courts in 2007 after he was caught skateboarding around the war memorial in Victory Square.

The latest youngster has been bailed and police are considering whether the youth should be given a summons to court for breaching a local bylaw.

He could be referred to the anti-social behaviour unit for further investigations.

Anyone found skateboarding on or around the structure can be charged under a Hartlepool Borough Council bylaw introduced in 2004 that prevents skateboarders from using the area.

Police also say people skating on the memorial could face charges under the Public Order Act or of criminal damage and be taken before town magistrates.

Acting Insp Green added: "We take these matters very seriously and will do everything in our power to make sure the memorial is given the respect it deserves."

Anyone seeing people misusing the memorial is asked to contact Hartlepool Police on (01642) 302126 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

**enemy combatant** · 11-18-2009 02:56 PM

The "anti-social behaviour unit"???!!!??? I can see people being upset about the graffiti but skating?

The dead don't care...

**Bookworm** · 11-18-2009 02:59 PM

not even a video of the infraction?

**MadMike** · 11-18-2009 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by enemy combatant

The "anti-social behaviour unit"???!!!??? I can see people being upset about the graffiti but skating?

The dead don't care...

I know I'm going to regret this, but memorials aren't for the dead they're for the living.

**Old Guy** · 11-18-2009 06:38 PM

I agree that skaters and any other recreational users should stay off of monuments, but there's something disturbingly Orwellian about the "anti-social behavior unit."

**Cann0n** · 11-18-2009 06:54 PM

Skategeezer... You make my day with your posts.

I agree that skaters need to respect memorials... but that's a little dramatic to arrest skaters for it. I have yet seen how skating actually damages property... as long as you aren't rubbing wax everywhere or painting the walls...

The day I get arrested, I want you to write a thread about it skategeezer.

**Camel** · 11-18-2009 06:59 PM

I'd be more upset about someone peeing on the memorial. Kids having fun is different than disrespecting it with pee!

"anti-social behaviour unit" coming soon to an america near you...

**Wolfin** · 11-19-2009 12:10 AM

In my opinion, this is irrational. You can make the same argument about skating in graveyards. The potential of doing damage.

Personally I believe that if someone was skating on a memorial or in a graveyard and having fun while doing so, it's all good. I'd be more annoyed if some depressed person came and sat by my memorial all day.

I wonder if they'd arrest a couple people playing hacky sack.

**Chainmaillekid** · 11-19-2009 01:31 AM

To tell you the truth...

This is kinda scary.

that anti-social behavior unit...

Im 98.27% sure thats refering to "anti social personality disorder"

The OLDER name for this disorder, is Psycopathy.

I don't think skating on/near a monument make a person a psychopath.

Careless, perhaps.

**johnA** · 11-19-2009 01:36 AM

So this dude got busted for nascar(ing) around a war memorial? Didn't say if he was doing grinds and such so uh-huh, that doesn't rub well for lots of people - military communities for starters.