Locals in a Welsh village have painted over St George’s Crosses, the symbol of England’s patron saint and the country’s flag, after it was graffiti-ed across the area. The BBC reported that about 20 different signs around Henllys in Cwmbran were painted over by villagers who came together to clean them.
The region’s council thanked its residents for cleaning the graffiti. Gwent Police said the incident had been reported and local officers were making inquiries. This comes after similar symbols were painted across England in August, and a police investigation was launched into the painting of the England flag on a roundabout in Llandudno, Conwy County.
Groups responsible for putting up the flags in England told the BBC the motivation for putting up the symbols were pride and patriotism. However, others have said it feels provocative at a time when tensions are running high over concerns about illegal immigration.
As per the BBC, about 15 residents who cleaned up the graffiti in the Henllys said they feel “empowered” by their efforts, at a time when there is so much division.
Sam Higgins, 54, who co-led the clean up, claimed most of the “vandalism” was made up of St George’s Crosses, but swastikas were also found along a subway, alongside text which read: “Stop the boats.”
The swastika symbol was the emblem of the German Nazi political party, which had Adolf Hitler as its leader and waged war as part of the Axis during World War II. The sign has been spray-painted on public spaces, including in September when it appeared in Maesteg, Bridgend county. A police investigation was launched in a bid to locate who was responsible.
The subway in Henllys where a swastika was allegely found is used by school pupils, and Ms Higgins described the vandalism there as “so wrong”, adding she “never thought” she would be scrubbing off the heinous symbol in 2025.
Alongside councillor Fiona Cross, Ms Higgins gathered a group of residents to clean up the graffiti and she added that those responsible for the signage “want to divide” people. She believes that the clean-up has sent a much stronger message about community cohesion.
“The bus stops have never looked so good,” Ms Higgins joked.
“Cwmbran is a new town, full of new people, we don’t want that here. It goes against everything we have built up.”