Police investigate swastikas and antisemitic messages daubed in Canvey Island
Eight antisemitic and homophobic incidents of graffiti were discovered on Sunday in the area which has a growing Orthodox community
Swastikas and antisemitic messages were sprayed over cars and garages in red paint in Canvey Island on Remembrance Sunday.
Eight antisemitic, racist and homophobic graffiti in Ferrymead, Lincoln Way and Southwalter were reported to police.
It is believed that the damage may have occurred between midnight and 5am on Sunday.
Officers are treating the incidents as a hate crime and have visited over 250 houses to reassure residents, as police enquiries continue.
Holly Roache, 26, from Southwalters, took a photo of her neighbour’s car after it was daubed with a swastika in red paint.
“We were shocked, we couldn’t believe it,” she told Jewish News.
Canvey is home to a small but growing Orthodox Jewish community which has families settle there in recent years.
However, all victims identified as white British, with no Orthodox religious affiliation.
Sgt Victoria Jarvis said the incident marked “an incredibly sad day for Canvey Island.”
“This community has welcomed people of all backgrounds, races and religions, and for someone to publicly declare hatred of certain members of society, and damage property in doing so, is unacceptable,” she said.
“We’ve been working closely with local residents today to raise awareness of hate crime, gather information, and have maintained a visible presence in the area to deter any further criminal activity,” she added.
Police are keen to speak to a man seen in Southwalters between 2.15am and 3.45am.
He was described as white, around 6ft 2ins and wore a light-coloured jacket, jogging bottoms and trainers with a reflective strip on the back.
If you have information that may help police enquiries, contact 101, quoting the incident number 307 with the date 10 November.
Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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