Outrage after Pokemon Go character placed on war memorial - The Stratford Observer

Outrage after Pokemon Go character placed on war memorial

Stratford Editorial 24th Apr, 2018 Updated: 27th Apr, 2018   0

OUTRAGED residents in Studley are demanding an apology after the makers of Pokemon Go placed one of the characters on the village war memorial.

Villagers looked on in anger at the weekend as groups of children and adults clambered all over the Alcester Road memorial while playing the hugely popular real-location-based game in which players use mobile phones in the search for characters which pop up on their screen when found.

The memorial bears the names of villagers who gave their lives in the service of their country.

Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi has demanded the firm responsible for Pokemon, Niantic, remove the the memorial from the game immediately.




He told The Observer: “I am shocked that a Pokemon has been put on the war memorial.

“To incorporate a war memorial into a game trivialises the memorial and is it incredibly disrespectful to the many thousands of men and women who have given their lives to defend this country and its values.


“I have contacted the developers of ‘Pokemon Go’ urging them to remove or re-locate the Pokemon as soon as possible and issue an apology for the offence and upset caused to local residents.”

Philip Hunt of Studley Royal British Legion, was livid.

He said: “This is an absolute disgrace. I cannot imagine anything more stupid or disrespectful.

“This company should be brought to book and made to apologise for its actions.”

Parish council chairman Paul Beaman called it “totally unacceptable”.

He said: “We have had children clambering all over the war memorial. I have contacted the company and let them know this is totally inappropriate.

Coun Brian Dixon added: “We are talking about a village treasure – that’s our war memorial and we should demand an apology.”

Niantic had not responded to The Observer’s request for a comment at the time of going to press.

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