Exclusive A London GP practice has been the victim of a ‘hate crime’ and ‘aggravated criminal damage’, including ‘Islamophobic’ graffiti and vandalism.
The practice team at Queens Road Medical Centre in Walthamstow discovered ‘obscene and Islamophobic graffiti’ as well as damage to their locks, letterbox, intercom system, and outdoor lighting, and reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police at the end of last month.
The police has confirmed to Pulse that it is investigating two incidents at the practice, which occurred throughout January, but that no arrests have yet been made.
GP principal Dr Abdul Sheikh, who has also worked on community and race relations in Walthamstow for many years, told Pulse that the ‘shocking’ incident has left his staff with the ‘fear […] that it might happen again’.
He said that the surgery stays open until 10pm on some days, which means the staff are ‘scared and feel unsafe particularly when leaving the premises so late’. He told Pulse that targeting a GP practice is ‘unusual’ and ‘alarming’.
As well as reporting the incident to the police, Dr Sheikh also notified North East London ICB and his MP Stella Creasey.
In response, Ms Creasey told the practice she was ‘shocked’ by the incident, while NEL ICB wrote to all GPs yesterday to express its ‘unwavering support’ in light of ‘the recent hate crimes targeting local GPs’.
In his email to the MP, Dr Sheikh referred to ‘recent Islamophobic graffiti targeting places of worship’ in London, as reported by the Evening Standard in January.
He continued: ‘Sadly, our doctors’ surgery, Queens Road Medical Centre in Walthamstow, has also been the victim of Islamophobic, racial and hate campaign.
‘In addition to obscene and Islamophobic graffiti, our locks were blocked in an attempt to prevent both staff and patients from entering the surgery.
‘This was also the case with our letter box [which] was blocked, stopping our staff from accessing patients’ prescription requests and clinical letters sent to us. Our video intercom system and outdoor motion sensor lighting was also removed.’
During the racist riots last summer, Walthamstow was one of the areas where ‘the whole of the community were together’, Dr Sheikh told Pulse.
He said: ‘We have got an excellent community relations record actually. We have got a peaceful life. But I don’t know why just recently some places of worship have been targeted with graffiti, and my surgery.
‘Otherwise there have been no problems in our community for many, many years […] It is quite shocking, actually.’
The GP principal, who has been in post for 55 years, also said he has ‘been involved in community relations and race relations’ for many years.
‘I have been bringing the community together and working on race relations, then I am the target of the same thing,’ he told Pulse.
Despite the shock among staff, Dr Sheikh highlighted the positive support from both patients and local organisations.
‘Frankly speaking, we were actually very upset. But when we saw the support from the community, from the patients and from the council, and from the ICB, that they are united and standing around us, that is encouraging,’ he added.
The practice, which currently has CCTV cameras only inside, will now install cameras outside as a result of the incident.
The police asked any witnesses or those with information, such as mobile phone or dash cam footage, to contact them on 101 with reference 1594/31Jan.
The Met Police told Pulse: ‘Police have been investigating a hate crime and aggravated criminal damage following reports of anti-social behaviour at a GP surgery in Walthamstow.
‘A incident of criminal damage with racist graffiti sprayed on the walls at Queens Road Medical Centre, Waltham Forest, was reported to police at 08:51hrs on Friday, 31 January.
‘This report also included a second incident of criminal damage that happened sometime between Friday, 10 January and Wednesday, 22 January. There have been no arrests at this stage.’
Dr Sheikh said it is important for practices to be ‘vigilant’ and ‘take the necessary measures to protect their properties and the safety of the staff’.
This was also highlighted by the ICB in its message to all North East London GPs, seen by Pulse, which encouraged them to ‘remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour and criminal activity’ to the authorities.
The ICB’s managing director of primary care Sarah See wrote: ‘The ICB has been made aware that a couple of practices across the patch have been targeted and vandalised in recent weeks – one of these practices being a victim of hate crime.
‘I am writing to express our unwavering support for you and your colleagues in light of the recent hate crimes targeting local GPs.
‘These incidents are deeply troubling and completely unacceptable. Hate has no place in society, and we can only tackle this by supporting, and standing by one another.’
She said they ‘recognise the invaluable contributions that GPs make’ to the community, and sought to reassure GPs that the ICB is supportive ‘during this challenging time’.
‘We are working with the practices currently affected, providing support and making sure that security and safety measures are in place,’ Ms See added.
A spokesperson for NEL ICB also said: ‘We stand firmly against any form of discrimination and violence.’
The ICB has not confirmed to Pulse where the other incident of vandalism took place.
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