A trend that seems to have started in Reading is now spreading all over the country.

Whatever your views on it, the one thing that has spawned like a virus all over Reading since lockdown is graffiti. 

The council has a dedicated team fighting a losing battle and trying make an iota of difference, but seemingly every bare inch of wall or fence is a valid target for the taggers. Like rabid dogs they will defecatet on anyone and everyone's doorstep (apart from their own, presumably).

But a more recent trend is even more worrying.

It involves indiscriminately splashing copious amounts of red or grey paint on buildings (and then often tagging the word 'brothel' beside it).

The first victim was a charity shop in Caversham, followed by homes in Russell Street and Henley Street. Then homes in London were hit and last month The Guardian reported how this has become a national trend.

Pro-Palestinian protesters, including Palestine Action, have been blamed for incidents where buildings have been splashed with red paint. Targeted sites include Somerset County Hall, the University of Cambridge's Senate House, as well as homes and businesses in Reading. The group Palestine Action has stated their actions are to reflect "Palestinian bloodshed" and to protest against the Israeli government and entities they believe are linked to the conflict. 

Somerset County Hall was targeted because of the council's ownership of a building let to defense contractor Elbit Systems UK, which activists claim has links to the Israeli military, and the University of Cambridge's Senate House was splashed with red paint, with Palestine Action claiming responsibility and stating their intention was to reflect "Palestinian bloodshed". But it is unclear why the Reading buildings were targeted. Some attacks have been put down to Chinese gangs or even money launderers reminding their 'clients' to pay.

Most recently homes in Liverpool, Bradford, Huddersfield, Clacton and parts of London including Walthamstow have been targetted.

Police are investigating these incidents, with in some cases ruled out as antisemitic hate crimes, while others are still under investigation as being the work of organised crime. Similar events have been reported in other countries as the work of criminal gangs operating out of China.