Friday, 2 January 2009

Disgust at racist graffiti on shops

POLICE were today hunting a racist vandal who daubed vile graffiti on shops.
The attacks took place in Kirkham at around 2am yesterday.

CCTV cameras captured the young vandal using a can of spray paint to daub offensive slogans and symbols across store frontages on Poulton Street.

Nine shop windows were targeted by the lout, who escaped on a bicycle.

Elaine Silverwood, owner of SilverDell bookshop and ice cream parlour, said: "This was a really awful thing to find on our shop window and something we've never really had a problem with in Kirkham before.

"You get kids writing their names somewhere and the police go and pick them up.

"But these were really nasty comments which left me feeling sick.

"I've been going through my CCTV to see if I could spot whoever's done it.

"The police have been in and spoke to us and I believe they've been to see the other businesses who have been targeted.

"We've not got it anywhere near as bad as other places.

"There's an empty charity shop across the street which has it all over the full window.

"I've contacted the council to see if they can clean it off, but if they can't I'll go and do it myself because it just looks awful."

Police spent yesterday conducting inquiries in Kirkham while viewing CCTV in the area.

Sgt Paul Fowler of St Annes Police said: "There has been graffiti sprayed on to some of the shop windows in Kirkham.

"Some of that was racist in nature and it has all now been removed.

"Inquiries are ongoing and we are looking at CCTV to try to identify the person responsible.

"We would like to hear from anybody who may have seen something or might match the description of the person we want to speak to in connection with this incident."

Police believe the vandal was a teenage boy.

CCTV footage shows him wearing a light grey Parka-style coat with the hood pulled up, light grey tracksuit trousers and dark trainers with light laces or a logo on the tongue.

He rode a dark mountain bike with white forks and front suspension.

Anyone with information can contact St Annes Police Station on (01253) 604697 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Blackpool Gazette
01 January 2009

1 comment:

Improvedliving said...

well these graffiti really boils my blood.


artist