Police hunt those behind Hastings anti-religious graffiti

7:04pm Wednesday 27th June 2012 in News

Police are on the hunt for those behind anti-religious graffiti which they have dubbed a “hate crime”.

Sussex Police asked for people to come forward after the words “Evil Queen” was sprayed on the doors of Blacklands Church in Hastings.

Officers added “Roman Devils” was daubed in black on a wall in St Mary's Terrace and on property at St Mary's Church in the town’s High Street in the last two weeks.

The “St” has also been blacked out from road names such as St George's Road.

Inspector Paul Phelps, of Sussex Police, said: “We are appealing for witnesses to these incidents some of which have appeared during daylight hours.

“These are being treated as hate crimes.

“Sussex Police is committed to reducing all forms of hate crime and works closely with community groups to increase reporting, widen awareness, and build confidence with victims to help bring offenders to justice.”

Anyone with information should contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1174 of 23/06.

Comments(17)

pearlygrey says...
7:39pm Wed 27 Jun 12

Christ Almighty! Whatever next?

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Ligand Fields says...
8:04pm Wed 27 Jun 12

It could be a Ken Russell fan...?

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mimseycal says...
8:26pm Wed 27 Jun 12

In all fairness if daubing swastikas on headstones in a Jewish Cemetery or pigs heads being fixed on the entrance to Mosques constitute hate crimes, so does this.

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john5001 says...
8:30pm Wed 27 Jun 12

we let them into the country and this what we get

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mimseycal says...
8:33pm Wed 27 Jun 12

john5001 wrote:
we let them into the country and this what we get
You are assuming the culprits are immigrants?

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NickBrt says...
9:07pm Wed 27 Jun 12

Surprised anything is being done since these crimes are not against Muslims, usually only they enjoy protection under the law. ALLEGEDLY.

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longman says...
9:52pm Wed 27 Jun 12

NickBrt your comment is also seen as a hate comment!

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longman says...
9:52pm Wed 27 Jun 12

NickBrt your comment is also seen as a hate comment!

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chrisso says...
9:54pm Wed 27 Jun 12

This should just be classed as stupid vandalism/graffiti. Why shouldn't somebody be entitled to hate another religion, especially if that religion itself promotes prejudice, for instance against gender, or sexual orientation?

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john5001 says...
7:44am Thu 28 Jun 12

NickBrt wrote:
Surprised anything is being done since these crimes are not against Muslims, usually only they enjoy protection under the law. ALLEGEDLY.
true

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Angryoldman says...
7:59am Thu 28 Jun 12

Careful what you say or think. We are now a police state. On the other hand it's perfectly legal to dodge six billion in tax. A new law next week will make it a criminal offence to crack open your boiled egg on the narrow side. It offends the chicken god.

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Old Ladys Gin says...
8:00am Thu 28 Jun 12

The courts, not the police, will decide what kind of crime, if any, this is.

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Archie Bun says...
8:03am Thu 28 Jun 12

Can't be called anti religion since you don't know if the people who did it had a religion. And the concept of 'hate crime' is ridiculous. Would the perpetrators of this getting a stiffer sentence than someone else who did graffiti?

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Goldenwight says...
9:22am Thu 28 Jun 12

How exactly is this anti-religious? With the possible exception of damage to a church building (not the Church itself) it appears to be mindless vandalism.

Anti-royalist (Evil Queen), possibly. Anti-British (defacing a St George's Road sign) probably. But anti-religious?

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Hotbeans says...
9:26am Thu 28 Jun 12

Hate is what the religious do best, judging by their bloody history.

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MuammarQaddafi says...
1:07pm Thu 28 Jun 12

The whole concept of 'hate crime' is a bad joke. If you commit a crime, you are due for punishment regardless of whether the person you victimised is of the same colour or opinions as you or not. To call it a 'hate crime' means that they presume to know what was in your heart at the time you committed it. How do they get THAT right?

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mimseycal says...
2:00pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Muammar you are right. However, like it or not, the category is there and as such should and does relate to all those crimes that fall within the category.

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