Avon and Somerset police are progressing with their hate crime investigation into the public display of a pig’s head in a Bristol alleyway.
Police responded to a call on the morning of November 6 in the Barton Hill area of the city.
A local community group, the Barton-hill Activity Club, tweeted, “BartonHill residents woke up 2 this yesterday morning, it’s a very shocking to see this kind of hate crime and racism in 2022”, attaching a photograph of the pig’s head (which some readers might find upsetting).
BartonHill residents woke up 2 this yesterday morning, it's a very shocking to see this kind of hate crime and racism in 2022. The residents in Eccleston House keep calling me asking if this is related to the fire that happened last month? @AandSPCC @SARIcharity @BristolCouncil pic.twitter.com/lzT74FKcSH
— Barton-hill Activity Club C.I.C (@samirabhac) November 7, 2022
Locals also condemned the incident on Twitter, as local councillors, including Mohamed Makawi and Emma Edwards – who extended messages of solidarity to the impacted communities.
Chief Inspector Deepak Kenth provided an update on November 8 in a statement which read: “We’re continuing to make progress in our investigation and have a number of active lines of enquiry we’re pursuing, including an ongoing review of CCTV and other footage from around the area.
“At this stage we do not believe this incident is linked to a recent fire at Eccleston House, for which an investigation remains ongoing with arrests made.
“We’d like to thank local residents for their continuing support and we want them to know that we’re here to listen to their worries and concerns, as well as to follow up on information provided to us.
Neighbourhood policing also creates a space for locals to speak with them during drop-in sessions.
A mobile police station has been set up just off Avonvale Road and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing team are there to give information and reassurance to local residents, listen to any worries or concerns, and follow-up on any information provided. pic.twitter.com/8b8L9hfa1g
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) November 8, 2022
Anyone with information can contact 101, quoting the reference number 5222267142. Tell MAMA can do this on your behalf or pass information forward anonymously.