Parties are united in their condemnation of 'racist' vandalism

GATESHEAD councillors have stood in solidarity against those responsible for the racist graffiti that scarred the streets of a Birtley community two weeks ago.

- AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE

The act, believed to have been carried out overnight, saw a local school, cars and even people's front doors vandalised, in what was described as an act of “intimidation”.

In a special motion set out in the full council meeting at Gateshead Civic Centre, both sides of the chamber denounced the actions in Barley Mow.

In addition, the motion called on Northumbria Police to “robustly investigate” racially-motivated incidents and for the justice system to apply the maximum uplift for racial-hate crimes.