Vandals who desecrate war memorials should face stiff penalties of up to 10 years in prison, an MP demanded on Wednesday
Conservative MP David Burrowes said at least one memorial a week was being desecrated and this included vandalism, theft and even urination and defecation.
Burrowes highlighted a "despicable" case in his Enfield Southgate constituency in which two irreplaceable bronze plaques were stolen.
The plaques were never recovered and if it had not been for a local historian who had photographed them, the names of the dead would have been lost forever as no other records existed.
Burrowes also referred to cases of people urinating on memorials, which he said caused public anger and revulsion.
Last year Philip Laing, 19, was given community service for urinating over wreaths of poppies at a war memorial.
Burrowes wants to change the law ensure criminals would be dealt with in the Crown Courts under a separate offence and not the lesser offence of criminal damage. Those convicted could then be jailed for up to 10 years.
He said it is "unacceptable" that war memorials have no specific legal protection.
Introducing his Desecration of War Memorials Bill in the Commons, he said: "I wish to introduce this Bill to ensure that we reflect the importance of war memorials. If enacted, the Bill would properly punish those who show such disregard by desecrating a war memorial.
"The purpose of this is to ensure those culprits get the punishment they deserve."
Burrowes told MPs his Bill would ensure memorials got "proper legal recognition" which would tackle the problem not just of desecration but also the problems of neglect.
The Desecration of War Memorials Bill gained an unopposed first reading but stands little chance of becoming law due to a lack of parliamentary time.
