A COUNCILLOR has hit out at people who commit crimes in a Bradford cemetery, saying: “They can’t even leave the dead alone.”

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) was discuissing crime problems in the Undercliffe area when he criticised people who commit crimes such as drug dealing or illegally riding off road vehicles in Undercliffe Cemetery.

The Bradford East Area Committee was being given an update on crime in the constituency at a meeting on Wednesday.

Members were told that drug related crime in the past year was up 21 per cent compared to 2019.

Cllr Ahmed said there was a “massive problem” with drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the Undercliffe area.

He said he had even received reports of such crimes in Undercliffe Cemetery, adding: “They can’t even leave the dead alone.”

Undercliffe Cemetery is considered one of the finest cemeteries outside London, and is the final resting place of many of Bradford’s Victorian elite.

Inspector Paul Riley of Bradford East Neighbourhood Policing team replied: “Undercliffe is a priority area for us at the minute. There are a number of activities taking place to challenge some of the behaviour we see.

“We’re holding a number of days of action in the area.”

He said one incident had seen a CCTV camera at Undercliffe Cemetery damaged, and police were working with the cemetery to tackle the issues there.

Another had seen police seize a number of quad bikes in the area. Insp Riley said: “A large number of people gathered and were hostile to police.

“We arrested a number of people.”

An event was recently held at Carlton Bolling School to bring together residents and services like police and the fire service to discuss issues in the area.