Teens join clean-up of vandalised cenotaph

Teenagers behind a spree of yob behaviour have cleaned up a vandalised Black Country war memorial.

Three 15-year-olds were ordered to clean up the cenotaph in Wednesbury Memorial Gardens after making neighbours' lives a misery.

Other yobs had attacked the memorial, which is dedicated to those who who died fighting for their country, twice this month. Vandals threw around poppy wreaths laid at the cenotaph at a remembrance service at the start of November. Flower beds were also trampled in the attack at the Walsall Street site.

Two weeks before, damage had to be cleared up after wooden crosses laid by relatives of servicemen who lost their lives in the two world wars were found trampled, broken and strewn around the garden.

On Saturday teenagers who have been responsible for anti-social behaviour problems in the Hawthorn Road area spent the morning cleaning up the cenotaph and Brunswick Park and cemetery.

Insp Akeel Najib, of Wednesbury police, said they had been hanging around on the streets drinking alcohol and abusing residents.

After being identified they were given the option of volunteering to put something back into the community or risk heavier penalties such as anti-social behaviour contracts or parenting orders.

Joined by Pc Stephen Thompson, from Wednesbury neighbourhood policing team, they filled seven bags with rubbish.

"All the young people had been spoken to at home and admitted their part in the anti-social behaviour before they were encouraged to join the clean-up team," Pc Thompson said.

"Their parents have been very supportive."