East Sussex footpath damaged in ‘targeted attack’

The National Park Authority said it was “deeply saddened and appalled” by the destruction of a walking trail telling stories about the South Downs.

It said 13 memorial plaques along the Sussex Heritage Coast from Seaford to Eastbourne had been removed in a “targeted attack”.

The authority said it considered the removal of the signs to be “a criminal act” and had reported it to the police.

Sergeant Tom Carter, of Sussex Police's rural crime team, said: “The fact that someone has decided to steal plaques from this particular path, which displays works by authors from black and global majority backgrounds, is a despicable act.”

It is believed that the plaques were removed with a screwdriver when the screws were reinserted into the posts.

A spokesman for the authority said: “As there have been no other attacks on memorial plaques in the area, we can unfortunately only assume that the theft was targeted and racially motivated.”

The plaques were linked to 13 audio stories that were part of a trail called “We Hear You Now” to be unveiled in 2023.

The initiative recognized the “deep connection that local writers of global heritage” had with the landscape.

Tim Slaney, the agency's interim executive director, said the incident was “deeply shocking and horrifying.”

“We stand in full solidarity with the authors who have put their heart and soul into this project over many years to create a hiking trail that many people have enjoyed.”

He said the authority, which has already begun reinstalling the plaques, will “continue to honor everyone's voices and engage the full spectrum of all our communities.”

Sergeant Carter said: “While some may view this as mere theft of plastic parts, in reality it is the theft of artistic expression.”

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact Sussex Police.