227 attacks on churches

Over the past 12 months there has been 227 attacks on churches throughout Lancashire and today a vicar said many are now being turned into Fort Knox to keep the vandals out.

The Rev Brian Stevenson, of St Silas' Church in Preston New Road, Blackburn, said: "It is the sense of the unexpected and that sacredness has been debased that comes as a shock to the system of members of the congregation, especially the older ones who have never seen anything like this.

"One presupposes that no-one would ever attack a church and there is a sense of helplessness and a sense of cost when it does happen.

"It is a shame but our church is now like Fort Knox with an outside gate which is locked and grilles on the windows."

In the past two years eight churches in East Lancashire have been targeted by fire bugs, causing up to £500,000 worth of damage, according to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

The figures represent a steady rise on previous years but the talks have been called after the authorities decided "enough is enough."

A report to the fire authority, which meets on Monday, says churches are among the most vulnerable of targets. Attacks on churches rob the area of architecturally important landmarks

and relics which, while not of great monetary value, are "priceless" in terms of their place in local history and religious significance, it adds. Typically church buildings are not fitted with sprinkler systems, smoke detectors or security alarms, the reports points out, and vandals can easily find out when the building is not being used.

Spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service John Taylor said: "Many churches do not have smoke detectors and seem not to have security to any great extent, be it alarms or whatever. We would issue a plea for a bit more high-tech in the pews, for churches to come round to using CCTV cameras or automatic alarms. Neighbourhood watch could also have a beneficial effect as churches are community buildings after all.

"There is a tension between the open doors policy churches would like to sustain with a security and cost element.

"The cost of arson attacks can be very high indeed, but the cost in terms of devastation to the community and devout parishioners cannot have a figure put upon it."

Arson at churches hit the headlines in May and August this year when three Catholic churches in Preston were torched to a cost of more than £100,000. Police evidence revealed all three had been set ablaze by one man, who has since been arrested and is awaiting trial.

One of the churches worst hit by vandalism in recent times was St James's CE in Darwen, which was subject to a spate of attacks which left windows smashed and other damage. Windows were broken, a cast iron drainpipe smashed and graffiti daubed on walls in what police described as 'despicable' vandalism.

Fire crews have paid "Hot Spotting" visits to churches to conduct risk assessment and provide fire prevention advice.

The term "Hot Spotting" is used to describe the process of targeting community fire safety in the aftermath of a spate of fires in one area or of one type, for example chip pan fires.

Church authorities were also asked to consider installing fire alarms in church buildings and to plan emergency routines in case of fire.

A convention of combined churches was held in Liverpool in July where police from East Lancashire offered advice on how to keep places of worship more secure against arsonists and vandals.

Picture: The Rev John Faraday inspects vandalism at St James Church, Darwen