Pleas to install CCTV at High Wycombe’s graveyard have been rejected due to “considerable cost” however the council has vowed to keep a closer eye on cemeteries to deter anti-social behaviour.

Families have been calling for more protection at High Wycombe cemetery since October following reports that graves have been targeted by vandals and strewn with litter.

Wycombe District Council has since launched a new monitoring process, which sees photographs taken of the graves before officers remove items for graveyard maintenance.

However councillors remain sceptical over the instillation of CCTV due to the “significant cost” and the ineffectiveness of the cameras at night.

It is also feared that CCTV would infringe on the privacy of people paying tribute to their loved ones.

At a meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee on January 17 councillors “acknowledged the distress caused” and agreed to monitor the number of reported incidents at the cemeteries.

The committee agreed to review the situation in a year to see if any improvements have been made.

Bereaved father Darren Chandler helped launch the campaign after his 8-year-old daughter’s grave was “left bare” after thieves reportedly stole decorations around it.

There have also been reports that graves have been littered with broken bottles and cigarette butts.

Addressing the town committee, Mr Chandler said: “I am glad that it has been suggested that better record be kept of items that graveyard operators remove from the graves.

“This might solve a small part of the problem however I do think that there is a problem with people going in to the cemetery to cause trouble and vandalise the graves.

“I often see broken glass or beer cans around graves. The petition did call for CCTV in particular but I think it will be helpful if the council will look at other security measures that can be put in to place.

“I know that CCTV is very expensive so there might be alternative ways security can be improved without spending too much money.”

A range of other solutions were discussed, including lighting the cemetery at night however councillors feared this would have a negative impact on neighbours.

WDC officer, Elaine Jewell, reminded councillors that a graveyard officer lives on site, holds regular patrols of the cemetery and closes the gates.

Chairman of the committee, cllr Tony Green, concluded saying: “We acknowledge distress caused by circumstances such as this and I am sure we can all agree that the number of recorded incidents is monitored alongside new process for recording the removal of items from graves by council officers.

“Can I suggest that we get a report back in a years’ time and that will then give us the basis as to whether we need to take further action.”