Police treating vandalism of Black Lives Matter exhibition as ‘racially aggravated hate crime’

Posters of Marcus Rashford, Lewis Hamilton and Nicola Adams defaced

The display was erected along the front of Christchurch Methodist Church, in Hitchin, in August (Christchurch Methodist Church)

Police in Hertfordshire are treating the defacement of a Black Lives Matter exhibition as a suspected racially aggravated hate crime. 

The incident saw a series of posters, displayed to celebrate the 100 Great Black Britons movement, vandalised using black spray paint. The faces of several iconic black British figures, such as Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Olympian boxer Nicola Adams and footballer Marcus Rashford, were sprayed over using the substance. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary described it as “racially aggravated criminal damage”. 

The police have said the incident took place between 5pm on Friday 23 October and 10.45am on Saturday 24 October at Christchurch Methodist Church, on Bedford Road, in Hitchin, and have appealed to the public for witnesses and information.

In a statement, PC Emma Jessup, who is investigating the case, said: “Not only is this senseless vandalism, with an exhibition celebrating black history that people have worked very hard on ruined, but it is also being treated as a hate crime. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire, and we are conducting extensive enquiries to trace those responsible.”

“If you witnessed the incident taking place, or if you have any information that you think may assist with our investigation, please get in contact as soon as possible,” she added. 

Patrick Vernon, who co-founded the 100 Great Black britons movement, tweeted the incident, calling it “terrible news” and using the now world-famous hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.

A slew of Twitter users responded to the news, with one man defiantly claiming the incident “proves once again why the BLM movement is so important in the UK. Racism is around every corner”. 

If you have any information, you can contact PC Jessup directly via email at emma.jessup@herts.pnn.police.uk. 

You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.