Swastika appears at Wigan skate park

Obscene graffiti, including a swastika, has been daubed on ramps at a Wigan skate park.
Graffiti in the skate parkGraffiti in the skate park
Graffiti in the skate park

The symbol, mostly known for being used by the Nazis, and swear words were painted on the facilities at Alexandra Park in Pemberton.

Alongside the swastika was the message “paint the ramps”.

The graffiti was reported to have been carried out at the weekend and council staff have been to investigate.

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Paul Barton, assistant director for environment at Wigan Council, said: “We did have a report of graffiti at the weekend and our officers visited the site to investigate. Some of it appeared to have already been painted over and we will remove anything that is offensive.

“It is a shame that someone has chosen to deface a public park in this way. We would encourage members of the public to report any further incidents to us.”

Ward councillor Mike Dewhurst said: “We take a dim view of people destroying the facilities there.

“It’s something that we will take very seriously and I will be having a word with the police myself.”

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Dog walker Anthony Bridge saw the graffiti on Monday and told the Post it was the latest in a series of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the park.

He said: “I walk my dogs regularly in the park. Last evening a large group of teenagers were hanging around the skate park drinking.

“On returning during the morning’s dog walk, I found the entire skate park has been sprayed with obscene graffiti.

“Issues with littering and drug paraphernalia have previously been reported to Wigan Council by myself. However, littering and general anti-social behaviour continues to be an ongoing issue.

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“A few weeks ago, we had to report an incident to the police due to teenagers exploding laughing gas and aerosol cans directly under the railway bridge at the back of the park.”

A council spokesman said its anti-social behaviour team was not aware of recent issues in the park, but encouraged residents to report anything via www.wigan.gov.uk or by calling police on 101.

Earlier this year, figures revealed Greater Manchester was one of three police force areas to record more than 1,000 hate crime incidents after the European referendum.

Three quarters of forces in England and Wales saw record levels in the three months ending September 2016.

Wigan Council launched its Believe I’m Only Human campaign last year to encourage tolerance and togetherness.