A blue plaque erected in memory of a Black man who drowned after being racially harassed by police in Leeds has been stolen less than three hours after being unveiled.
The memorial to David Oluwale was removed overnight, just hours after it was installed on Monday close to where he drowned in the River Aire in Leeds.
West Yorkshire Police detectives have launched a hate crime investigation into the matter while the Leeds Civic Trust have condemned the “cowardly” act. “
We are aware of the abhorrent and cowardly theft and removal of David Oluwale’s blue plaque overnight, just a few hours after its unveiling,” the organisation tweeted.
“The people responsible bring shame on our city and we will not be deterred from commemorating David’s life and legacy.”
The David Oluwale Memorial Association said: “It’s appalling, but it demonstrates their weakness.
“Racist graffiti, theft and criminal damage are the tools of people with no following, no solutions, motivated only by malice.”
Mr Oluwale, who was born in Nigeria, was last seen running away from police officers in April 1969 and was later discovered in the Aire. He was aged 39 when he died.
The tribute, which is near to a bridge that was recently installed in his name, reads: “A British citizen, he came to Leeds from Nigeria in 1949 in search of a better life. Hounded to his death near Leeds Bridge, two policemen were imprisoned for their crimes.”
West Yorkshire Police officers believe that the plaque was likely to have been removed sometime between 9.30pm and 10pm on Monday night, a police spokesperson told The Independent. The unveiling event was concluded by 7pm.
Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Damien Miller said: “It is truly appalling that someone would remove the plaque commemorating the life of David Oluwale, and we recognise the significant impact that this act will have had on all those involved in keeping David’s memory alive and on the wider community.
“The timing clearly suggests that this has been a deliberately targeted act and we are classing this as a hate crime.
“We are treating this incident very seriously and have detectives from Leeds District CID carrying out extensive enquiries to identify who is responsible and to locate and recover the plaque.
“Leeds Bridge is in a busy area in the heart of the city centre and we would urge anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity or who has any information that could assist the investigation to contact us immediately.”
Mr Oluwale was born in Nigera in 1930 and moved to England in August 1949. Having hid on a cargo ship heading for Hull, the then-teenager was imprisoned for being a stowaway. Following his release, Mr Oluwale settled in Leeds and he worked in industries helping rebuild the post-war city.
In his final two years, Mr Oluwale became homeless in Leeds city centre, where he was hounded by police officers Insp Geoffrey Ellerker and Sgt Kenneth Kitching, who mentally and physically abused him on a regular basis.
He was chased by the officers towards the River Aire in the early hours of 18 April 1969. His body was found in the water two weeks later.
The officers were later jailed for a series of assaults relating to Mr Oluwale. Howeve, a jury was instructed not to convict them for manslaughter and equalities campaigners say the officers’ trial presented a deliberately negative portrait of Mr Oluwale as a “social nuisance”.
Anyone with information about the plaque theft is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting crime reference 13220222118 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat
Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
