Hunt for teenage girls after Chesterfield war memorial damaged again

Do you know who did this? If so, call police.

The word 'Rich' was written on the memorial on Thursday night in what officers believe may have been black marker pen.

Police are now trying to trace three girls seen in the area at about 6pm. They are described as being 15 or 16 and one was wearing a blue tracksuit type top while the other two girls were wearing dark clothing.

PCSO Karl Marsh, of the Chesterfield Town Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Not only is it disrespectful and upsetting to the local community, there is also a cost for the graffiti to be removed.

"I would urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or have any information to contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The latest damage came days after Chesterfield Borough Council used several hundred pounds of taxpayers' money to remove graffiti painted on the memorial on two separate occasions last week.

Residents have hit out at the 'scumbags' responsible for the crimes.

Councillor John Burrows, the borough council’s leader, said: "I am extremely disappointed to see that the memorial has been defaced yet again.

"This is pure vandalism and an absolute insult to the fallen of Chesterfield.

"Not only is it very disrespectful, it is also a waste of council taxpayers' money to clean."

It has now been vandalised five times in three years.