Graffiti officers are hunting vandals who sprayed Nazi slogans on graves and smashed monuments in Glasgow’s Necropolis.
Specialists from Glasgow Community & Safety Services (GCSS) and Strathclyde Police are on the trail of vandals who defaced gravestones and monuments with racist slogans and Nazi emblems.
GCSS and its partners sprang into action after being alerted by a tour guide who runs ghost walks in the historic graveyard. As part of the Clean Glasgow campaign, the service removes eyesore graffiti across the city and works with Strathclyde Police to track down those responsible.
A GCSS team was drafted in to remove the offensive slogans after it was photographed and catalogued by officers. A total of 110 metres of spray painting was removed the day after it was reported but some of the headstones are so old the chemicals could damage them and permission will have to be sought from relatives prior to the work being carried out.
A multi-agency meeting has also been convened in a bid to catch the culprits and safeguard the cemetery.
Police on cross country motorbikes and plain clothed officers will be drafted in to patrol the Necropolis. Mobile CCTV vans will also monitor the site in Castle Street to identify anyone damaging graves.
Tour guide, Trevor Rooney of the Glasgow Ghost Walk, was shocked to discover the damage while walking round the cemetery which is hailed as one of the most significant in Europe. It boasts monuments designed by leading Glaswegian architects such as Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
Trevor said: “The damage is absolutely disgusting – especially because it includes swastikas and Nazi symbols. It’s sacrilege. I’d like to thank GCSS and the council for their swift response. They didn’t mess about in removing the graffiti on newer stones and trying to contact relatives for permission to use chemicals on the older monuments.”
GCSS is an arms length organisation of Glasgow City Council which runs the cemetery.
Councillor James Coleman, Chair of GCSS and the Clean Glasgow campaign,
said: “This kind of mindless vandalism is appalling and hugely offensive. I’m personally disgusted by this sickening act which not only dishonours the dead but also tarnishes the city’s image.
“Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.”
Inspector Mandy Rorrison of Strathclyde Police said: “This graffiti is totally abhorrent and will not be tolerated. We’ve drawn up an action plan and will do everything in our power to catch those responsible and minimise the chances of it happening again.”