[Acrylic-bob]

Some months ago, I posted a couple of pics of the defaced war memorial in Oak Hill Park, under the thread "Respect, or rather the lack of it". The story was subsequently picked up by the Observer (see, we have more influence than we realise).

On the front page of this week's edition developments are reported. Apparently following the Observer's running of the story the culprit's mother recognised the names involved in the vandalism as belonging to her thirteen year old who, as usual, cannot be named for legal reasons.

However, Seargeant Bob Eaton of Accrington Police has announced that the boy will be made to clean up Oak Hill Park as part of his punishment. He has also been given an "Acceptable Behaviour Contract", which will involve the Police monitoring his subsequent behaviour. And quite right too, I hear you all say.

Interestingly though, and this is the bit which I find heartening, the miserable little scrote is to be taken under police escort to the Lancashire County War Museum in Preston. Sergeant Eaton said: "We want the lad to understand why such a fuss is being made over this. We'll whisk him to the regimental museum to show him why we have such memorials and why they should be places of respect for his generation as well as the elderly. This is not about rewarding bad behaviour; it's about being pragmatic and making the best of a bad job. It's also about being true to our world and supporting a parent who was brave enough to come forward.

Brigadier Geoff Sheldon, of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment said:"If the museum visit results in the boy realising he did a stupid, cruel thing it will have been an inspired idea."

I wonder how this initiative might be extended to cover other acts of mindless vandalism and anti-social behaviour?