Police Headstones Damaged

[buffaloskinner]

The Memorials of Two Murdered Police Officers Damaged in Separate Attacks are Being Investigated
Memorials to two murdered police officers in Leeds have been vandalised. Black paint appears to have been used in the attacks on the tribute to Sgt John Speed who was killed in Leeds in 1984 outside Leeds parish Church, and PC Ian Broadhurst, who was shot and killed in Dib Lane on Boxing Day 2003.
West Yorkshire police said: At 6.43pm on Saturday, police received a report of the memorial dedicated to PC Ian Broadhurst, who was shot and killed in Dib Lane on Boxing Day 2003, being damaged. Wreaths and flowers laid at the site had been strewn about and black paint sprayed on the memorial stone. The incident occurred between about 6.10pm and 6.20pm.
At 9.06am on Sunday, police were made aware of a similar incident involving the memorial to Sgt John Speed, who was shot and killed in Kirkgate, in Leeds city centre, on October 31, 1984. Black paint had been sprayed on the memorial stone at about 1am that morning.
Given the timings and the similarities in the type of damage caused, it is believed the incidents are likely to be linked.
Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds said: “It is absolutely disgusting that someone would deliberately deface the memorials honouring the memories of PC Ian Broadhurst and Sgt John Speed, who were murdered in the line of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to protect the public from armed and dangerous offenders.
“I know I speak for everyone in West Yorkshire Police and the wider policing family when I say how appalled we are about these incidents.
“PC Broadhurst’s memorial has now been cleaned, and Sgt Speed’s is due to be restored to its rightful condition shortly. Thankfully we don’t expect there to be any lasting damage to either.”
“We are carrying out enquiries to identify who was responsible.”

[Leodian]

That's extremely sad. It reminded me of what was reported to likely be deliberate damage to a wreath at John Speed's memorial plaque in 2018. I have attached a photo that I took on November 6 2018 showing a new wreath that had recently been placed.

JohnSpeedPlaqueNov062018..jpg (197.93 KiB) Viewed 707 times

[Jann]

Disgusting behaviour from some horrible person to deface these memorials, hope whoever did this is caught very soon and punished

[Leodian]

In a report dated January 29 2025 in the Yorkshire Evening Post website it states "A man has been arrested over damage caused to the memorials of two murdered Leeds police officers.The 56-year-old man, from Leeds, was arrested last night on suspicion of intentionally causing a public nuisance in relation to the incidents on Saturday evening...Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Sarah Lambert, Leeds District Head of Crime and Safeguarding, said: “Both memorial stones have been cleaned and are being fully restored by the Police Memorial Trust, which owns and maintains the memorials. “The arrested man remains in custody and detectives from Leeds District CID are continuing to progress the investigation. “We are grateful to everyone who has contacted us with information or shared messages of support recognising the impact of this incident.”

[buffaloskinner]

Jonathan Enoch, aged 56, of Ryedale Court, Seacroft, has been charged with two counts of intentionally causing a public nuisance under Section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.