Merseyside Police are actively searching for five male suspects following a series of racist and hateful graffiti incidents across south Sefton. The offensive messages were discovered on the morning of Tuesday, September 23, in multiple public locations throughout Litherland, Seaforth, and Bootle.
Key Takeaways
- Merseyside Police are investigating multiple incidents of racist graffiti in south Sefton.
- Authorities are seeking five male suspects believed to be responsible for the acts.
- The graffiti appeared overnight between Monday, September 22, and Tuesday, September 23.
- Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson has strongly condemned the incidents as "hate crimes."
- Police have issued an appeal for public assistance, including any available CCTV or dashcam footage.
Investigation into Widespread Vandalism
Merseyside Police initiated a formal investigation after receiving several reports from the public on Tuesday, September 23. The offensive graffiti was found spray-painted across a wide area, targeting numerous public spaces and buildings.
The affected locations were spread across Litherland, Seaforth, and Bootle, indicating a coordinated effort. All reported graffiti has since been removed by local authorities.
Targeted Locations
The vandalism was discovered in several key community areas, including:
- Bridge Road in Litherland
- Buildings near the canal towpath
- Seaforth and Litherland railway station
- North Park
- Bootle Leisure Centre
- Marsh Lane
Suspects Identified Through CCTV Footage
Following a review of available CCTV footage from the affected areas, investigators have identified a group of five individuals they believe are connected to the incidents. The force is now working to determine their identities.
According to the police description, the suspects are all males who were dressed in black clothing. They wore face coverings and had their hoods up to conceal their identities.
The group consisted of four individuals on foot, while a fifth member was seen on a pedal bike. Police believe they carried out the vandalism during the late hours of Monday, September 22, and the early hours of Tuesday, September 23.
Local Leaders Condemn "Hate Crimes"
The incidents prompted a swift and strong response from local officials. Sefton Council leader, Cllr Marion Atkinson, expressed her disgust at the acts and affirmed the council's commitment to tackling such behaviour.
"I am extremely disturbed by this disgusting graffiti. This is absolutely unacceptable and we will not be tolerating this filth," Cllr Atkinson stated. "We have had these hate crimes reported to us by local residents who are as outraged and disgusted by what they have seen as we are and we will be taking action to remove it."
She emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, adding, "These are hate crimes and we will be working closely with the police to work to make sure whoever did this is caught."
Police Appeal for Public Assistance
Detectives are urging the local community to come forward with any information that could help identify the individuals responsible. Detective Inspector Keith Swift provided an update on the investigation and made a direct appeal for witnesses.
Key Appeal Timeframe: Police are specifically interested in CCTV or dashcam footage from the evening of Monday, September 22, into the early morning of Tuesday, September 23.
"Our investigation is progressing and we believe the suspects in these incidents were five males. We are determined to find them and our inquiries are ongoing," said Detective Inspector Swift.
"They clearly made a concerted effort to hide their identifies and we are relying on the local community, who Iām sure are just as appalled as we are, to come forward with information. We will not tolerate racist and hateful graffiti being committed in our community and we are carrying out enquiries to find the perpetrators."
How to Report Information
Merseyside Police have provided several channels for the public to submit information related to this investigation or other hate crimes. Confidentiality is assured through multiple reporting options.
Official Police Channels:
- Contact Merseyside Police via their social media desk on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook at @MerPolCC, quoting log reference 25000785826.
- Report online through the official Merseyside Police website.
- Call the non-emergency number 101.
Anonymous and Third-Party Reporting:
- To report information anonymously, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or via their secure online form.
- For those who do not wish to report directly to the police, the charity Stop Hate UK operates a 24/7 confidential helpline at 0800 138 1625 and has a reporting app available.
Across Merseyside, various third-party reporting centres are also available, including fire stations and citizens advice bureaus, providing a safe space for victims and witnesses to report hate crimes.