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Vandal targets war memorial

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"Graffiti has no place anywhere, but a war memorial is one place you definitely wouldn't expect to see it. You would think that people would respect a memorial like that"
Councillor Robert Hawkes
Published Date:
13 October 2009
Wellingborough reporter
Racist graffiti has been sprayed across a war memorial.
There have been a string of incidents at locations across Wellingborough in recent days.

Offensive words targeted at white people were written in big letters across the front of the memorial in Broad Green, Wellingborough, between Saturday night a
nd Sunday morning.

The white stone memorial lists the names of Wellingborough soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars.

The offensive words were temporarily covered with a plastic recycling bag and on Sunday a member of the public attempted to wash the graffiti off, although it was still clearly visible. The graffiti was finally removed yesterday.

Councillor Robert Hawkes, ward councillor for Swanspool which includes Broad Green, said: "It's not what I want to see on my war memorial. It's disgraceful. It's illiterate, mindless stupidity, probably fuelled by alcohol.

"Graffiti has no place anywhere, but a war memorial is one place you definitely wouldn't expect to see it. You would think that people would respect a memorial like that."

Graffiti was also sprayed across a building in Kiln Way, on the Queensway estate in the town, on Saturday night and police believe the two incidents could be connected.

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information about offensive graffiti which was daubed in the area of Broad Green and Queensway in Wellingborough."

Noel Hubbard, 81, of Wilby Park, Wilby, was angry to hear of the vandalism.

He said: "I think it's disgusting.

"The youth of today have no respect for other people's property, whether it's private, council or otherwise."

Insp Vaughan Clarke, sector commander for Wellingborough, said: "We believe the recent incidents of offensive graffiti found in a number of locations were committed by the same person and are isolated incidents that took place on the same day.

"We are conducting inquiries to identify the offender and are working closely with the local authority to ensure that such graffiti is removed as soon as possible.

"Hate crime will not be tolerated by Northamptonshire Police."

Witnesses, or anyone with information, can call Northamptonshire Police on 03000 111 222 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.



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  • Last Updated: 13 October 2009 8:55 AM
  • Source: Northants Evening Telegraph
  • Location: Kettering
 
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Bobby85,

Kettering 13/10/2009 13:27:06
Todays society is wrong. I'm only 23 myself. When I was around 16, me and my friends went to play football or biked round, never broke any thing or spray painted anything.

These people should be locked up. The people that sadly lost their lives in WW1 & 2 are british hero's and should be honored. We could live in a completly different society if they hadn't gone to fight for their queen & country.
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Ray Rodden,

Corby 13/10/2009 19:10:00
This kind of hing happens to all sections of British community.

We have had racist graffiti targetting black british people and now racist graffiti targeting the white community.

Far right intolerance is as bad as far left and religeous hatred.

All different sides of the same problem.

Each side feeds off of the other.
It's surely up to British people in all our communities to walk away from the types of extremist political parties and groups that help this stuff to fester.

To a great extent the answer is in the hands of the electorate to reject all these individuals
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Northants BNP,

Wellingborough 14/10/2009 17:04:13
If this had been a case of racist graffiti directed against any other sector of society there would have been a comment in the report from either Anjona Roy or Paul Crofts from Northamptonshire Racial Equality Council condemning it. Their silence speaks volumes.

It was not only an insult to the majority of people in Wellingborough, but greater still an insult to all those that died so that the idiot(s) that did it could be free from oppression in this country.

They will probably be let off with a paltry fine and a few hours community service if they are ever caught.
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Ray Rodden,

Corby 14/10/2009 22:09:28
.... just like the far right extremists who AGAIN targeted that asian shop the other week.

The sad thing is that he type of people who do this type of thing do it because of the climate of hatred created by extremists.

They seem to think it's ok because people who should know better tell them to hate others. Even to the extent of persuading children it's ok to hate others by burning effigies at so called family fun fests, etc.

They are all as bad as each other
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Kat Fiction,

Wellingborough 15/10/2009 15:39:27
I think Mr Rodden has hit the nail on the head, when he says 'They are all as bad as each other'. All discussion of this incident should not become petty political point scoring. And to sneer that 'They will probably be let off with a paltry fine' is almost laughable, coming from a group who would only want that for them had their choice of words, not their actions, been different.

The sad thing is that whovever did this evidently had no appreciation or education as to what the memorial represents, and that is people of all races who have fought for Britain, often against intolerance and fascism.

Racism can be committed by any racial group against any other, and I am impressed that in this article noone has hidden from that. Too often racism against white people is not considered to be just that, when really it is no better and no worse then racism against black, asian, or other non-white groups.

Before people use this article to jump on any dodgy political bandwagons, they should also read the one in the Wellingborough news section about some appauling racially motivated attacks upon an Asian-owned business in Wellingborough.

Wellingborough has a very varied population, of many different races (many of whom are British, many of whom are mixed race and so often overlooked by everyone) and nationalities. This has provided us with many opportunities to experience things that are not considered traditionally British, from a variety of different cuisines available, to groceries, to beauty supplies, to fashion, to the celebration of festivals and important occasions originating in many countries and religions. There is nothing to say all of these things cannot be enjoyed alongside traditional British culture, so we get the best of all worlds. It is not worth losing all of this to please a minority of pathetic hate-mongers from any 'side'.

I hope those who committed this act, as with those who commit any similar offence, are caught and punished. But more
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Kat Fiction,

Wellingborough 15/10/2009 15:39:59
than anything, I would be curious as to their reasons for targeting the war memorial. I suspect, as with so many mindless acts to do with hate crimes, it is purely ignorance.
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Northants BNP,

Wellingborough 15/10/2009 17:04:43
Don't attack me I'm agreeing with you. Read what I said, not what you wanted me to say.

Any racial attack should rightfully be condemned. so please do not put words into my mouth or thoughts into my head that I have not said or thought.

Wherever I have seen reports of attacks on Asian homes or businesses I have condemned these too, not only on here but on my blog. It is not a case of jumping on any political bandwagon.
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Ray Rodden,

Corby 15/10/2009 18:02:09
but how sincere on racism is the previous comment when they are shown in pictures and video that two of their own members AND county council candidates (not from Northants) hold a mock trial of a black doll, acused of being black and burned.

All with the participation of a 12 year old girl.

The reaction of the local BNP is that 'it did not happen', 'its a fake', etc.

Yet the two BNP members have been named.They have not taken legal action against the News of the World because the events happened and are undenialbly true.

In denial or a cover-up?

What action have the BNP taken against these individuals?
To date, it seems none.

Until the BNP get their house in order the majority of reasonable British people will continue to view them with the contempt and suspicion they deserve.

This does not mean the BNP should 'not say things in public what they say in private' but means some honesty from them. Time and again they say one thing and then the inherent deep grained agenda comes to the fore.
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Northants BNP,

Wellingborough 15/10/2009 22:33:09
What has the BNP got to do with the above story?

Ray, I was at Red, White and Blue where the alleged 'doll burning' took place. I say alleged because I do not know of anyone that saw it. There is nothing in the video that places it as happening at RWB, it could have happened anywhere. The audio on the video released by NOTW was non-existant and had to rely on subtitles, now the BBC have found a copy where the voices have miraculously appeared!

Anyway, Ray, your bleating, lies and misinformation which Goebbels would be proud of has nothing to do with the story above which just goes it is you with the hidden political agenda here.

Are you going to renounce your Communist past?
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Ray Rodden,

Corby 15/10/2009 23:51:38
Have you disciplined the prospective bnp county councillors identified on the video.

Just answer yes of no?

or is it yet another 'big lie'

As for what it has to do with the story above.
The BNP are the other side of the coin.
The person who put white racist remarks is as bad as the people who support the bnp and put black racist remarks and worse on asian shops.

you both foster hate.

See you've been reading a friends website, How original :-)

Thanks for making me laugh about the 'communist' bit.
Funny how anyone who even remotely criticises the far right BNP is called the far left.

Anyone even slightly left of Mr Hitler is considered the far left compared to the bnp.

You have the names of these people in the video - what have you done? NOTHING

The BNP are not part of the solution to racial and religious intolerance on both sides - you are very much a part of the problem - as the vast majority of tolerant British people well know
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