Essex police reassure locals in Canvey Island after spate of hateful graffiti

10 November 2019, 22:33

Hateful graffiti was sprayed over vehicles and cars in Ferrymead, Canvey Island
Hateful graffiti was sprayed over vehicles and cars in Ferrymead, Canvey Island. Picture: Google
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Police in Essex are taking steps to reassure residents in Canvey Island after a spate of hateful graffiti hit the town on Sunday.

Officers are going door-to-door after antisemitic, racist and homophobic graffiti was spread across the local area in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The messages were sprayed in red paint across buildings and cars in the area, which Essex Police confirmed they were treating as a hate crime.

Sergeant Victoria Jarvis, of Castle Point and Rochford’s Community Policing Team, said: "This marks an incredibly sad day for Canvey Island.

"This community has welcomed people of all backgrounds, races and religions, and for someone to publicly declare hatred of certain members of society, and damage property in doing so, is unacceptable.

She continued: "We’ve been working closely with local residents today to raise awareness of hate crime, gather information, and have maintained a visible presence in the area to deter any further criminal activity."

Officers also confirmed they were looking to speak with a 6 foot 2 white man, who was seen in the area between 2am and 4am, wearing a light-coloured jacket, jogging bottoms and trainers.

People with information can ring 101 and quote case number 307 on 10 November.