THE contribution made by Polish people to the Okehampton community has been praised by local businesses and civic leaders. It comes in response to anti-Polish graffiti sprayed around the town, including the Okehampton Times office. The words 'Polish Times' were sprayed on the Times front window in 12-inch high red letters sometime overnight on Monday. More menacing was the slogan, 'Go Back to Poland', daubed outside Red Lion Yard, opposite Waitrose. Sgt Mark Hoar, from West Devon Police, said this type of racist graffiti was rare in West Devon but completely intolerable. Sgt Hoar, who previously served as a force diversity officer, said: 'We won't tolerate any racist behaviour whatsover. This matter will be investigated and if the offenders are found they will have to face the law.' Sgt Hoar said the police took any racially-motivated crimes very seriously: 'If anyone becomes aware of any racist behaviour, they should contact us and it will be dealt with robustly.' Local employers and politicians were quick to condemn those who had written such xenophobic graffiti. Paul Adams, personnel manager at Manor House and Ashbury Golf Hotel — one of the largest employers of Polish labour in the area — said in his experience, the Polish workers made a valuable contribution to the community. He said: 'We employ around 40 to 45 Poles out of a total workforce of around 325 people. We have had no problems whatsoever in the two years or so we have been employing Polish people. 'Most of the Poles that come here have signed up for English courses at the college. They are hard-working and methodical in time-keeping and appearance.' Mr Adams said the Poles integrated well with the other nationalities employed at the hotel. 'Some of our local lads have even gone over on holiday when the staff go back to Poland,' he said. Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Frances Luxton said: 'The Polish people who come here make a positive contribution to local employers. They are very hard-working.' Cllr Luxton said she liked to think Okehampton extended a friendly welcome to foreign workers. 'We are a town that has no history of discrimination and I think Okehampton has always tried to make people welcome.' Cllr Tony Leech condemned the graffiti as 'cowardly' and praised the Polish people he had met for their politeness and strong work ethic. Retired diplomat Selby Johns, who lives at Folly Gate, has some first hand experience of Poland, having spent three years in Warsaw with the Foreign Office before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He said: 'I was there during the days of Communism. Conditions were not very favourable, but I still have great affection towards the country and its people.' Mr Johns said he learned Polish during his time in the country and these skills meant he was still able to converse with Polish people he met in England. He said: 'There were a couple of Polish brothers who came to live here for a while. They came to work on a local farm, they were hard-working, as we could tell from reports from their employer. 'For them the attraction in coming here is the prospect of relatively good rewards for effort that is commensurate with that they would make at home. 'For instance, one of the brothers had been a chef, and he was getting about £20 for something like a 12-hour day. The chance to earn better money is a pull here.' Okehampton Police ask anyone who may have been a witness or has any information about who might have been responsible for the graffiti to contact them on 08452 777444, quoting log number JO/06/1071.
