POLICE have vowed to bring to justice the person responsible for daubing ‘vile racist graffiti’ at three locations in Denton.
Chief Inspector Lee Broadstock, who is responsible for neighbourhoods, has issued an appeal to the public for help tracking down the culprit.
Graffiti has been found on a defibrillator in the town centre, written in the snow on a car on Victoria Street and on benches and signposts in Hulme’s Wood nature reserve.
Chief Insp Broadstock made a public appeal for information on the Tameside GMP North and East Facebook page in which he warned “we will find you”.
In a video message, he said: “I have a message for the individual who is responsible for the vile racist graffiti that’s been spread around Denton.
“Your actions are not welcome here in Tameside. In Tameside we have no place for hate.
“I’m asking you to hand yourself in to police so we can understand why you did what you did, and you can understand the disgust and outrage you have caused.
“If you do not hand yourself in, be rest assured that we will find you.
“I have one final request, and that’s for the community of Denton and Tameside who have shown their outrage at these actions on social media. You know who this is. Please tell us.”
The community has rallied together to show that hate crime has no place in Tameside.
Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, said: “This vile behaviour has no place whatsoever in modern Britain, and certainly not in as tolerant and welcoming a town as Denton.
“The police are very actively investigating so that this person can be brought to justice. I’m very grateful to Inspector Broadstock at GMP Tameside for making this a priority to solve.”
Steve Marsland, headteacher at Russell Scott Primary School, Denton, said: “Racism is taught… it’s a grown-ups illness cured through education and on the lap of their parents.
“I’ve spent a lifetime teaching children to be brave and bold, to question, to learn and to show tolerance where achievement is not determined by colour.
“Whoever is spreading racist hate across our town has been poorly educated and has become sick.
Denton is a strong and proud town; show it. Call hate out to isolate and vaccinate another virus.”
Rev Jo Farnworth, vicar at St Andrew’s and St Martin’s, Droylsden, added: “I value the diversity of our borough – it’s a real joy to live and work alongside people from different backgrounds.
“There should be no place in this borough for race hate as it divides and weakens us.
“We are so much stronger and can do great things when we hold together, so let’s make sure we all keep supporting and respecting each other.”
Ruhela Begum, community development manager at Diversity Matters Northwest in Hyde, commented: “Misunderstanding often arises from ignorance and fear.
“No one is born hating each other because of the persons ethnic background, colour of their skin, or their faith.
“It’s a learnt behaviour, so people need to be educated around this matter if one can learn to hate likewise they can also be taught to love and get to know each other and live together in peace and harmony.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Support is available for victims of hate at www.letsendhatecrime.com