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Calls for police in Morecambe to protect against Nazi graffiti ahead of Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day takes place on Sunday November 11

Calls have been made for extra police patrols on the Promenade to avoid a repeat of far right graffiti on Morecambe War Memorial ahead of Remembrance Day.

A Morecambe councillor urged Lancashire Police to place officers on the Prom ahead of the annual service to remember the fallen on Sunday November 11.

Councillor Geoff Knight was speaking as Morecambe town councillors united to condemn racist, fascist and homophobic graffiti which was scrawled on the Promenade and in the town centre in two separate incidents this summer.

Police are investigating but the culprit or culprits have not yet been found.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson told Beyond Radio they are developing their plans for Remembrance Day to ensure there is no repeat.

"We've got Remembrance Sunday coming up and what happened to the War Memorial was terrible," said Councillor Knight, a Morecambe Bay Independent.

"I would urge police to have officers on Morecambe Promenade that weekend.

"We do not want to turn up on the Sunday and have graffiti over the place again."

His MBI colleague Roger Dennison (pictured below) said the "far right" graffiti was "abhorrent" and "dishonoured those who gave their lives to fight Nazism".

The swastika was discovered on the Memorial, located in the gardens on Marine Road Central, on Saturday August 19.

There was also racist and homophobic graffiti in other parts of the town centre, including on several buildings in Victoria Street and on the Jump Rush trampoline centre, and on walls on the Promenade.

The incident was reported to the police and Lancaster City Council, who removed the offensive graffiti.

It followed a previous instance of graffiti left on the Promenade overnight on July 28 and 29.

This also included homophobic slurs, violent messages and the swastika, and was again covered or removed and reported to the police. It is believed this was a targeted attack on the Morecambe Pride event, which took place on July 29.

Labour Councillor David Whitaker (pictured) said: "People in the LGBT, BAME and travelling community felt very vulnerable when they heard about this.

"We need to stand up to this.The police response can be rather slow."

His Labour colleague Councillor Joanne Ainscough said: "As someone who has a member of family whose name is on the War Memorial I can't even begin to explain how it made me feel when I saw the awful graffiti."

Councillors from all parties voted unanimously for a motion asking to be kept updated by the authorities on any progress being made to hold the culprit to account. They were speaking at a Morecambe Town Council meeting held on Thursday evening.

Chief Inspector Dave Hannan of Lancashire Police said in August: “This is an appalling offence, and the writing of racist and homophobic graffiti will not be tolerated.

"We are working hard to bring the offenders to justice.

"From the locations of the damage and existing CCTV we believe the individual has moved through Euston Road, Victoria Street, Northumberland Street and along the Promenade including the War Memorial. We believe the incidents happened in the early morning, around 1am.

“Someone out there knows who did this, and we could strongly encourage anyone to come forward with information.

“I want to thank the community for their continued support. Our local neighbourhood teams will be out in the area, so please do speak to them if you have any concerns."

A CCTV image was also released of the suspect.

If you have any information, footage, or anything that you think may help with this investigation, please contact 101 quoting log number 386 of 19th August.

Read more: Disgust as Morecambe War Memorial sprayed with Nazi graffiti - Beyond Radio

 

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