Sikh holy text vandalised: UK Police launch hate crime investigation in Leeds
London, July 21: West Yorkshire Police has launched a hate crime investigation after a Sikh holy text was found damaged outside a residential address in the Headingley area of Leeds, northern England. The incident was reported by a member of the local Sikh community on July 12.
Initially, it was believed that the damaged pieces of the holy text had been placed in the victim's bin by an unknown suspect after it was put out for refuse collection on July 11. However, this theory has been dismissed after officers visited the victim to gather a comprehensive account of the incident.
Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds, Leeds District Commander for West Yorkshire Police, stated that any crime perceived as being motivated by hostility or prejudice towards race or religion is treated as a hate crime. He emphasised that deliberately damaging a holy text to cause offense to a member of the Sikh community is completely unacceptable.
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The police have initiated a criminal investigation, led by detectives from Leeds District CID, who are conducting extensive inquiries to identify the responsible party and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Dodds acknowledged the concerns raised in the local Sikh community and assured that the police are working closely with key community representatives to provide reassurance and updates throughout the investigation.
Local neighbourhood policing teams and community engagement officers are also actively involved in supporting the investigation and reassuring the affected community. West Yorkshire Police is appealing to the public for any information related to the incident.
The incident has been recorded as racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage, and ongoing investigations aim to determine how the damaged text came to be discovered on St Anne's Road.
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- With inputs from agencies
