Local Reporter Confronts Wiltshire Councillors Over Punchbag Bearing His Face Found in Town Hall
A local newspaper journalist in Wiltshire has expressed shock and concern after discovering that his face had been printed out and attached to a punchbag within the town hall building. Joe McCann, a reporter for the Melksham News with a decade of experience, was tipped off by a contact about the disturbing image.
McCann raised the issue at a full council meeting on Monday, where he presented evidence of the punchbag, which also bore the words "punch me" at the bottom. Councillors appeared stunned by the revelation, with the town mayor, Saffi Rabey, condemning the act as unacceptable and expressing fury on McCann's behalf.
Council Response and Investigation
In response to the incident, Mayor Rabey stated, "This is not acceptable and you have every right to be furious. I didn't know this existed and I am lost for words on what to say on this. This is not acceptable behaviour." It is understood that the punchbag was placed by council staff rather than elected officials.
A council spokesperson confirmed that an investigation is underway, noting, "As this is a personnel matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. We can confirm that an investigation is underway and will be dealt with accordingly."
Journalist's Reaction and Broader Implications
McCann told the Guardian that he was "obviously pretty shocked" upon receiving the picture. "You don't expect to see yourself attached to a punchbag most days of the week," he added. Initially, he thought it might be a joke, but after consulting colleagues, he realised the severity of the situation.
He emphasised that the Melksham News operates impartially, similar to the BBC, and does not target the council. However, he noted that council officers seemed to be "shooting the messenger" by blaming the paper for highlighting their policies rather than addressing the issues themselves.
McCann also raised concerns about the wider impact on journalist safety. "Imagine that was someone who was a lot younger than me, who had just got into the industry? How would they feel?" he questioned. He linked the incident to growing fears about harassment of reporters, citing examples from the United States and warning against such behaviour creeping into the UK.
"Personally, my fear is that has already started happening slightly within this country," McCann said. "It needs to be raised, people need to be aware of it, and it needs to be stamped out as quickly as possible."
