A man has been charged after he allegedly painted offensive graffiti on a shopfront in Newcastle this morning.
About 7.30am (Sunday 12 January 2025), a man approached a chemist on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, before he allegedly painted an offensive symbol on a side wall of the premises.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified and established a crime scene.
Following inquiries, about 10am, the 47-year-old man was arrested nearby and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
He was charged with intentionally mark premises etc without prescribed consent and knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse.
The man was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 13 January 2025).
The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through Triple Zero (000).
It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.