N-word graffiti takes three months to remove

Wednesday 19 June 2019

Graffiti containing the n-word painted on top of gun emplacements in Grouville is finally being cleaned off after three months, amid confusion over who should be responsible for its removal.

The graffiti on Fort Henry, which includes calls for marijuana to be legalised, as well as the n-word and a drawing of a sexual nature created in black spray-paint, was first reported on 18 March via the LoveJersey app.

Launched in 2016 to make it easier for Islanders to report problems like pot-holes, dog mess, full bins, graffiti or fly-tipping, the app was put together by the then Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

Despite the report page noting "the people responsible for administering the area have been informed and they will be removing this graffiti", the markings were still present three months on.

Pictured: An aerial view of Fort Henry. (Google Maps)

The graffiti was also reported on social media, including on the 8,450-strong group 'Unseen Jersey'.

While Jersey Heritage has oversight of Fort Henry - which was supposedly built during the reign of Henry VII following the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century - the graffiti appeared on gun emplacements, for which responsibility reportedly lies with the Growth, Housing and Environment Department (formerly DfI).

A spokesperson for the Government confirmed that the Fort is on land leased by the Royal Jersey Golf Club.

They also confirmed the report was first logged in Love Jersey the evening of 18 March and was then referred to the Parish of Grouville. "Love Jersey uses road mapping to assign reports, and each parish has a Love Jersey account," they added.

Pictured: The graffiti read, 'Make Marijuana Legal My N***a'.

Contacted by Express, the Parish said "they were a little surprised to find out that the graffiti hadn’t been cleaned off."

The Golf Club has since agreed to clean the graffiti, following calls from the Parish.

Shane Boschat, a local detectorist and history enthusiast, who caught sight of the graffiti on 9 June, commented: "It's pleasing to see the matter is now being resolved.

"Considering the language used, and the many comments expressed online about it, I find it disappointing that it's taken so long for the graffiti to be cleaned up."

The news comes after bunkers built during the Nazi occupation of Jersey and a nearby bench were found to have been daubed with swastikas and 'SS' signs this week. Jersey Police said they would investigate.