Polish Embassy 'shocked' by 'xenophobic abuse' directed at Huntingdon residents after EU referendum

Abusive leaflets were left on cars near to a school in the Stukeley Meadows area of Huntingdon, as well as around a number of properties on Friday.

Laminated cards reading “Leave the EU - no more Polish vermin” in both English and Polish are being investigated by police.

The Polish Ambassador Witold Sobków said in a statement today, Monday June 27: “We are shocked and deeply concerned by the recent incidents of xenophobic abuse directed against the Polish community and other UK residents of migrant heritage.

“The Embassy is in contact with relevant institutions, and local police are already investigating the two most widely reported cases in Hammersmith, London, and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

“At the same time, we would like to thank for all the messages of support and solidarity with the Polish community expressed by the British public.

“We call on all Polish nationals who fall victim of xenophobic abuse and on all witnesses to report such incidents to local authorities.”

Yesterday Cambridgeshire Police met with a Polish community leader in Huntingdon.

Detective Superintendent Martin Brunning said: “The production and distribution of this and any other similar material is committing the crime of inciting racial hatred which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

“We are working closely with the affected community and are doing everything possible to ensure those responsible are caught.

“Any reports of hate crime in the county will be fully investigated and it is vitally important that anyone who has received these leaflets or suffered similar abuse reports it.

Daniel Guz, who was present at the meeting, said: “I’m very pleased to have been invited to the meeting this morning and am reassured by how seriously this is being taken.

“The community are obviously feeling upset by this and we must offer all the support we can to the police to help them catch the people who did this.

“It’s really important that we help the police to do their job and make sure nothing else happens to cause more problems.”

Officers would like to hear from anyone who has information, especially those who have had the leaflets placed on their cars or on or around their property.

If you have information please contact Cambridgeshire Constabulary by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.