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Skateboarders warned off war memorial
SKATEBOARDERS are being warned to steer clear of a war memorial – or face prosecution.
Police are clamping down on skateboarding teenagers who have been using Hartlepool's war memorial, in Victory Square, to perform tricks and stunts.
Officers are increasing patrols in the area and will tell anyone skateboarding at the site to move on and use the Mill House Skate Park, near Hartlepool United's Victoria Park.
If they refuse, they could be charged under a Hartlepool Borough Council bylaw introduced in 2004 that prevents skateboarders from using the area.
Police also say they could face charges under the Public Order Act or of criminal damage and be taken before town magistrates.
Acting Chief Inspector Tony Green said: "We have just had the D-Day anniversary and soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan, so it's only right that our war memorial should be accorded proper respect and a degree of reverence."
The war memorial, a listed structure, underwent 89,000 of restoration work last year and police are determined stop it being damaged.
They are keen to point people who want to skateboard to the Mill House Skate Park, which opened in 2002 at a cost of 60,000 after youngsters complained about a lack of facilities in the town.
Act Chf Insp Green added: "This is not about being a killjoy, it's simply about asking them to use the facilities provided and to recognise some areas should be respected.
"We are trying to be reasonable. This is a matter of public concern but if the advice is not heeded, then the only option is enforcement. We can not be fairer than that."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
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