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Police probe Pride bench fire as funds raised

Aimee Dexter
BBC News, Hertfordshire
North Herts Pride A bench that is painted rainbow is sat on the grass in the middle. The right side of the bench is burnt from the fire, and the left side has still got its colourings. The bench sits behind a concrete path, and behind it there is grass and bushes. North Herts Pride
Police are investigating after a bench was set on fire in Hitchin

Officers have launched an investigation after a pride bench was set on fire.

Hertfordshire Police said they are investigating a suspected arson after the North Herts Pride LGBTQ+ bench was set on fire on Windmill Hill in Hitchin.

Police said the incident happened between 17:00 BST on Monday and 09:00 on Tuesday.

"We cannot say for sure it is done out of hate, but it is a horrific thing that happened," Niamh Skinner, director of North Herts Pride, said.

"We will never stop, we are not going anywhere, and we will repaint it brighter and better," she added.

The traditionally coloured bench received a rainbow-style makeover in March 2023 after a councillor gave North Herts Pride some money from their locality budget.

The group was then able to commission local artist Jacob Williams-Leroy to paint the bench to represent LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) communities.

Katie Wilson, one of the co-founders of North Herts Pride, said "people are quite shocked" as "Hitchin is an accepting town".

North Herts Pride A metal sign is sitting on the bench in between where the fire has been and where it is untouched. The sign says ‘Love conquers all – North Herts Pride’.North Herts Pride
The bench is used as the main gathering point for events held by the not-for-profit organisation

A fundraising page was set up by the organisation to raise funds for the bench to be repainted.

Ms Skinner said the goal of £650 was reached in under an hour and "people are still donating".

PC Lewis Thomson, North Hertfordshire's police hate crime officer, said: "We are continuing to establish the full circumstances of this incident and are appealing for any information.

"We know that this crime may have affected members of the LGBTQ+ community and I want to assure people that a full and thorough investigation will take place."

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