Police Investigating 'Unacceptable' Use Of Naval Memorial As Toilet

An investigation has been launched after reports of people using the Portsmouth Naval Memorial as a toilet.

Police were called after reports of women urinating on the monument on Southsea Common on Friday.

Officers also found evidence of defecation at the site.

The memorial was built in remembrance of 25,000 naval personnel who died in the two world wars.

A spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) said: "The CWGC strongly condemns the wholly inappropriate and disrespectful use of sections of our Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

"We are working with the authorities in Portsmouth to find a permanent solution but in the interim our staff have increased their visits to the memorial and are regularly steam cleaning the memorial's shelter floors.

"It saddens us that in the year in which we mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, our memorial has been treated in this manner, but we will never allow the actions of a few to mar the memory of the many."

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "Southsea Neighbourhood Policing Team have been made aware of the report and are investigating.

"While this behaviour is completely unacceptable, we do not believe it is hate or protest related."

Cover image: Library picture of the memorial (Picture: PA).