Second spate of 'hate-related' graffiti in a month
BBCAnti-Israeli graffiti daubed on buildings in a market town is being treated as hate-related crime, police have said.
Eight locations on Brogden Street, New Market Street and Market Street in Ulverston, Cumbria, were targeted overnight on Sunday, following three previous incidents at the same places on 12 January.
Town mayor Shirley-Anne Wilson said the community was "shocked and shaken" by the graffiti which included support for a banned organisation.
In a message to the vandals, Ulverston Business Improvement District member Matthew Mayvers, who was involved in the clean-up on Monday, said: "If you've got opinions, we would prefer you to express them differently."
Mayvers said he spotted the graffiti on some of the buildings at about 10:00 GMT on Monday and, along with a few other people, worked to try clean it up in a few hours.
"We don't agree with spraying graffiti on random businesses," he said.
"We want to keep the town looking as nice as possible for our residents and businesses."
People with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage were asked to share it with Cumbria Police, who said the "overwhelming response from residents has been one of condemnation".
The force said it was relying on the community to provide information as they would be "just as appalled as we are".
Westmorland and Furness Council said: "Hate of any kind will not be tolerated in our communities where values are built on ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected and able to thrive, whatever their background or identity."
