Pride banner vandalised for sixth time

A Pride group says the repeated damage to its banner is causing '"fear and apprehension to society".

Congleton Pride has fixed the banner to railings on Mountbatten Way in recent years, but over the past three it has been either damaged or stolen six times.

The banner was replaced after the most recent vandalism on 13 June, only for it to be stolen overnight.

Congleton Local Policing Unit, part of Cheshire Police, is investigating the reports and asked anyone with information or dashcam footage that may help with inquiries to get in touch.

Richard Walton, the events lead for Congleton Pride, said he believed it was just a minority in the area that were responsible for the vandalism and thefts.

He added: "It makes people feel really awkward and uneasy.

"If members of the LGBTQ community have experienced that bullying for a lot of their life, it just brings back really negative memories."

The group is now working with the local council to look at the possibility of putting CCTV in the area to either stop or catch the culprits.

Congleton Pride held its first event in 2019, going from a group of 200 people to 1,800 now attending the event.

Mr Walton told BBC Radio Stoke the reason the event had been set up was to give people a place where they could be themselves.

"This is just reinforcing that and we are defending people's rights to be who they are," he added.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via the website, quoting IML 2110748.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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