Racist graffiti discovered at a children's play park in Northumberland has been condemned by local leaders, who say there is 'no place' for such behaviour. The graffiti was found on a fence at The Sele Park in Hexham on the morning of July 14, 2026, and was immediately removed by Hexham Town Council workers. The incident has been reported to Northumbria Police as a hate crime.
Immediate Response and Removal
Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, said: 'We found some very distasteful and racist writing on one of the wooden areas this morning, we have immediately had our workforce go and sand it off. It's incredibly disappointing and it's not something we're used to.' The council acted swiftly to erase the offensive material, which included obscenities and racist imagery that ChronicleLive has chosen not to reproduce.
Community Outrage
Coun Suzanne Fairless-Aitken expressed her dismay: 'There's absolutely no room for this in our society, especially in a children's play park. It's so sad people feel the need to express their horrible views in a new park which people have spent lots of money on. We don't want children to see that.' She noted that CCTV cameras had been installed over the weekend, providing reassurance that those responsible could be identified.
Police Investigation
Insp Kate Benson of Northumbria Police said: 'We can confirm we are aware of a report and enquiries are ongoing. Discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable and has no place in our society.' The police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Park's Recent Renovation
The Sele Park had only recently reopened on July 2, 2026, following a £210,000 investment from Hexham Town Council. The mayor highlighted that the park had been well used during the warm weather since its reopening, making the vandalism particularly disheartening for the community.
