Thugs ruin Aids day tributes (From The Argus)

Thugs ruin Aids day tributes

2:00pm Sunday 6th December 2009 in

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Flowers and wreaths laid at a memorial have been damaged by thugs after dusk.

The tributes had been left at the foot of the Brighton Aids Memorial in New Steine Gardens on World Aids Day.

But the morning after, residents found flowers scattered around the park in Kemp Town.

It was the first night the gates on St James’s Street had not been locked for a month.

Brighton and Hove City Councillor Paul Elgood said: “It is a very sad thing to have happened.

“The ceremony on Tuesday was extremely moving and there were lots of people who came to pay their respects.

“We always knew the sculpture in the location that it is could be targeted.

“I just hope the people who did it come forward so we can hopefully make it clear.”

The St James’s Area Local Action Team (LAT) had agreed last month to lock a number of the entrances due to concerns about antisocial behaviour.

But after complaints from residents, the group agreed to leave the gates open round-the-clock for a fiveweek trial.

Inspector David Derrick, of Sussex Police, said: “What we are looking for is a balance between those people wanting to visit the memorial after dark and residents trying to get to sleep.

“Clearly keeping the gates open all the time is the best option.

“But where criminals are set on vandalising the memorial and flowers left by loved ones, and disturbing the peace of all residents then we are duty-bound to intervene.”

He added extra patrols would operate in and near the park in the next few weeks.

Chris Cooke, chairman of the LAT, said: “We will review the situation on a week-by-week basis.

“It is an emotive subject but one we will sort out.”

A decision will be taken on the locking of the gates at the LAT meeting on January 6 in Dorset Gardens Methodist Church at 7pm.