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Haslingden trader's anger at racist graffiti
6:03pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News
A TRADER has expressed his anger after racist graffiti was daubed on his new business.
Javaid Feroze said offensive words had been sprayed all over the exterior of his new tyre retail venture in Beaconsfield Street, Haslingden for the second time in two weeks.
The 49-year-old father said: “We are living in 2013 - you just don’t expect this behaviour.
“I am a British citizens just like they are. I am worried this behaviour will escalate. I literally have no idea why they have singled my business out.”
Mr Feroze, who lives in Braeside, Blackburn has reported the matter to the police.
Extra patrols have been carried out by the neighbourhood policing teams, but his property was targeted again in a midnight attack.
He said: “This can’t be children doing this. I have been at the property until 11.30pm most evenings and it is happening after that.
“I can’t believe people can still react this way. When I joined Darwen’s Moorland School 30 years ago there was only five Asian children at the school and I never suffered any racist abuse, so I am not going to stand for it now.
“I am trying to open a new business and create jobs but for some reason that is offending people.
“It’s not like I just take from the community, I put back too. For many years I have been involved in charity football tournaments that has raised around £20,000 for cancer research.”
The first lot of graffiti was removed by Rossendale Council.
Nick Reddrop, locality officer for Rossendale Council, said: “The council’s policy is to remove racist graffiti within 24-hours. On both occasions that graffiti was daubed on the building at Beaconsfield Street it was removed immediately and reported to the police.”
A Lancashire police spokesman urged anyone with information to come forward.
He said: “Racist incidents of this nature are completely unacceptable and will be investigated.
“I’d appeal to anybody with any information to contact police on 101.”