A pig's head was left outside a home and a family's front window was smashed in Salford in another spree of attacks on properties. At least four more houses were targeted on the evening of Tuesday, October 13, in Little Hulton, Walkden, and Kersley.
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed there have now been a total of 25 incidents of criminal damage since October 5. The vandalism is being 'treated as linked', with yobs targeting HMOs and 'properties that are being mistaken for HMOs'.
Family targeted in Little Hulton
One father was in his home in Little Hulton when a 'gang of youths in balaclavas' attacked the home next to his, then threw a brick through his front window. “My kids, who are two and four years old, were asleep upstairs and I was reading a book in the front room,” he said. “I heard them smashing up my neighbour’s house. Then they knocked on my door and a second later this rock smashed through my window.”
“It’s really scary. The police say they’re targeting HMOs, but this isn’t a HMO. We think they’re targeting us for our skin colour. It’s really scary, we have nowhere to go.” Neighbours described seeing four or five teenagers on bikes fleeing the scene at around 9pm.
Pig's head left in Kersal
Several of the homes have been daubed in red or black paint reading 'No HMOs' and 'Stop the Boats'. Footage shared online showed a pig's head left outside a property on Littleton Road in Kersal. A resident, who asked not to be named out of fear of his safety, described hearing a loud smash in the evening, and later seeing the pig's head laid out on the doorstep.
GMP have confirmed officers attended the scene early this morning, though the 'circumstances are currently unclear'. “It feels very unsafe at the moment,” said another local resident. “For everyone, but especially for people who are black or brown. It feels like they’ll start coming for us next.” Another described the atmosphere as feeling 'like the return of the National Front'.
Police response and appeal
The incidents have been strongly condemned by local leaders and members of the community. A 13-year-old boy who was arrested as part of our enquiries on Thursday (8 October) has since been released on police bail.
Lead for neighbourhoods in Salford, Chief Inspector Lee Gridley, said: “This spate of offending is being treated with the seriousness it deserves. No one should be made to feel unsafe in their own home and it’s not something that will be tolerated in Salford, or anywhere in Greater Manchester.
“Enquiries so far have led us to believe that HMOs, and properties that have been mistaken for HMOs, are being targeted. Officers will be on patrol across Salford throughout this week and I’d urge anyone who is worried about this offending to speak to them.
“If you have information that could help us, please report this to a police officer, online or by calling 101. If you don’t want to deal directly with police you can report to Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website. They won’t ask for your details and no one will know you have contacted them.”
Last week, City Mayor Paul Dennett called for unity, stating there was 'no place for hate, violence, intimidation, or discrimination'. A council spokesperson added: “We are aware of misinformation being spread on social media around Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – we have been working with our landlords and an updated mythbusting fact sheet on our website to address this: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) explained•Salford City Council.”
