Man sought over Dulwich Hamlet FC racist graffiti

Staff at the club photographed a man who appeared to be writing on a sign at the stadium

Police have released an image of a man they are looking for after "disgusting" racist and anti-immigration graffiti was repeatedly daubed near the entrance of a south London football club.

Between 21 July and 9 August, "hugely offensive" far-right remarks and a swastika symbol were scrawled on a sign outside Dulwich Hamlet FC's stadium on Champion Hill, the Met said.

The graffiti appeared on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays over the three-week period between 05:00 and 06:00 BST.

Police say the man "is very likely local" and called on anyone who recognises him to "contact us immediately".

On 9 August, Dulwich Hamlet FC staff saw a man who appeared to be writing on the sign and took a photograph of him, which they shared with the police.

However, the suspect has not been identified so far.

The Isthmian League Premier Division said it had repeatedly cleaned the graffiti off the sign, but has now had to replace it and install CCTV to monitor it.

Racist and anti-immigration comments were repeatedly daubed on the sign over a three-week period, police said

The club believes recent work to clear and weed an area around the stadium had led to the comments first being left.

"However, we were shocked to see the graffiti escalate from attacking us for cutting back vegetation into disgusting extreme racism and anti-immigration comments," Dulwich Hamlet FC Club chairman, Ben Clasper, said

"We hope this information, and the photograph will help someone in our community to identify him so the police can take further action."

Investigating officer PC Nicolas Wilson, who polices in East Dulwich, said: "I won't repeat the things the man has been writing but they are far right and anti-immigration in nature. They are hugely offensive and distressful to local people and the staff and players at the club."

PC Wilson described Dulwich Hamlet FC as a "pillar of the community" and said the attacks on its property were "unacceptable".

"The man is very likely local and I am sure someone will know who he is. If you do, please contact us immediately," he added.