Laughton Cemetery: Police issue statement as Rotherham 'grave tampering' investigation continues
Police have issued a new statement, more than a week after opening an investigation into allegations of grave tampering in a South Yorkshire cemetery.
Police first arrived at the scene of All Saints Church, in the Laughton-en-le-Morthen area of Rotherham, on Monday February 2, and now say the cemetery has been been reopened.
South Yorkshire Police sealed off the church’s cemetery and have remained in the area for the following eight days.
Investigations have been ongoing into reports of a crime relating to a grave, which has been described by officers as ‘targeted’.
Today (February 10), police have remove the cordon and reopened the churchyard.
A Rotherham South NPT (neighbourhood policing team) spokesperson said: “From 2pm this afternoon the police presence has been removed, and the yard has been fully opened to the public.
“We would like to thank the local community for their continued understanding and support while we conducted our enquiries.
“We continue to believe that this was a targeted incident, and that there is no threat to other graves within the church yard.”
Investigations are ongoing, with South Yorkshires Police appealing for people with relevant information to get in touch.
They are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was on Rotherham Lane between the evening of Saturday, January 31 and morning of Sunday, February 1, and saw anything suspicious or has CCTV footage or images.
People who visited the churchyard between Thursday, January 29 and Sunday, February 1, are also being asked to get in touch.
Police can be contacted via 101, quoting incident number 398 of February 1, 2026, or online here.