Graves reinstated following Islamophobic attack

A memorial service took place today for the families of loved ones whose graves were desecrated in a hate crime attack.

Councillors paid their respects, honouring the families’ loved ones, during the memorial ceremony. Brent Council owns Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Watford where 61 children’s graves were vandalised back in April. Police investigated the incident as a hate crime.

Cllr Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills, said: “We promised that we would do everything we could to support the families. Today, we were able to honour and respect them and their loved ones by reinstating the graves and signs.

“We are continuing to work with the police and the community to ensure that Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery is a safe burial ground for those who are laid to rest here.”

Brent is working with the police to increase security measures at the cemetery.
Three Rivers Chief Inspector, Kio Bozorgi, said: “It is important that we continue to do everything we can to listen to and understand the needs of our Muslim community; we want them to have the confidence to approach the police directly to report hate crimes or incidents when they occur.

“We continue to work closely with Brent Council, which owns the cemetery site, to offer recommendations on how to increase security in the area and prevent a terrible crime like this from happening again.”