Cemeteries regulations - 5. Conduct within cemeteries

5.1. All persons shall conduct themselves in a decent, quiet and orderly manner and are referred to The Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977 article 18(1) whereby no person shall:

  • Wilfully create any disturbance in the Cemeteries
  • Commit any nuisance in the Cemeteries
  • Wilfully interfere with any burial taking place in the Cemeteries
  • Wilfully interfere with any grave or vault, any tombstone or any other memorial or any plants on any such grave
  • Play at any game or sport in the Cemeteries

5.2. Under Article 18 of The Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977, any person who contravenes Article 18 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1000.00 and in the case of continuing offence to a fine not exceeding £10.00 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.

5.3. Any person found vandalising any part of the Cemeteries or desecrating any grave plot shall be liable for prosecution by the Council under the provisions of The Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977.

5.4. Visitors to the Cemeteries shall not unreasonably interrupt the Council’s employees or its contractors from undertaking their duties or employ them to undertake private works within the Cemeteries. All enquiries, complaints and requests by members of the public shall be made to the Authorised Officer and not to workers in the Cemeteries.

5.5. Dogs shall only be admitted into the Cemeteries on a short lead. Members of the public are directed to the current Dog Control Order where rules are further defined.

5.6. Children under 16 years of age are not permitted in the Cemeteries except under the care and supervision of a responsible adult.

5.7. No person shall sell, offer or expose for sale any article, commodity or thing of any kind whatsoever or solicit for orders from the same within the Cemeteries.

5.8. Any person using a motor vehicle or bicycle in the Cemeteries shall only do so on a carriageway suited to the purpose and with the consent of the Authorised Officer and shall abide by the 5mph speed limit. Skateboards, scooters or other similar street or off-road vehicles are not permitted.

5.9. Motor vehicles are strictly prohibited from parking on any grass or lawn area within the Cemeteries. Motor vehicles shall be parked in designated parking areas only and shall not block any roadway.

5.10. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise deposit and leave in the Cemeteries any litter or refuse of any kind except in the litter bins provided.

5.11. No burial shall take place and no monument or memorial shall be placed in the Cemeteries nor shall any additional inscription or alteration be made on a memorial without the prior consent of the Authorised Officer.

5.12. Burials shall be undertaken on time. Failure to do so may result in the Authorised Officer cancelling or delaying the burial.

5.13. All persons entering the Cemetery do so in the knowledge that there may be uneven ground and potentially unstable memorials. Care shall be taken at all times and there shall be absolutely no interference of any grave, memorial, building or structure.

5.14. Regard shall be had to any byelaws applicable.