Cllr John Pugh Calls for Action Against Racist Graffiti

"Politics locally and nationally could be about to take a darker turn,” says Liberal Democrat ,Cllr John Pugh, as flagrantly racist graffiti is appearing in various parts of the borough, including by the side of Southport’s Marine Lake (pictured here). 

 Sefton cleansing have had to remove increasing amounts of wholly unacceptable graffiti appearing in the borough.

“This isn’t just mindless daubing, “ say John Pugh, “88 is code for Adolf Hitler and NS/WP is a pro-Russian, white supremacist group.

 In the political underground some very negative actors are feeling emboldened and signalling to each other and the wider world. The Council cannot adopt a laissez-faire attitude to this but must remove it immediately. Unfortunately there is a growing impression that anyone can do what they like in public space. 

To be fair, the Council has drawn the line on swastika flags and removed them, but extremists don’t wait for or care about council permission. 

No-one will ever stop people holding whatever views they do, but no-one without public consent has the right to use public space to project them- especially when the object is to fuel hatred rather than civic and civil debate.”

Specific areas like Sunderland, Merseyside, Smethwick, York, and parts of Northern Ireland have seen a noticeable increase in reports of offensive and racist graffiti, often including swastikas. 

“This is organised stuff,” says Cllr.  Pugh, “ as our local police force is only too aware ".