An Essex pub which displayed golly dolls was vandalised on Sunday with graffiti and damaged windows, police have said.
Police said they would now conduct extra patrols in the area after the incident at the White Hart Inn in Gray’s at 12.40am on Sunday.
Officers had seized a collection of dolls from the pub, which are based on 18th century minstrels and now regarded as racist caricatures, on April 4, as part of an investigation into an allegation of hate crime.
Essex Police district commander Tony Atkin said: "Inquiries are taking place to establish what happened in the lead up to this incident and to identify those responsible, and includes viewing CCTV footage.
"One line of inquiry is that the criminal damage is linked to a previous incident that we are currently investigating, also linked to the White Hart Inn.
"We continue to investigate that incident and would ask the public to allow us to do so, remaining calm."
The pub first made headlines after it was reported by the MailOnline that Home Secretary Suella Braverman said Essex Police “should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense" and instead focus on “catching criminals".
The couple who run the pub, Chris and Benice Ryley, have insisted the dolls are not racist and that a “mountain has been made out of a molehill”.
Mrs Ryley previously said she has displayed the collection of about 30 dolls, donated by her late aunt and customers, in the pub for nearly 10 years.
“They're my childhood history, it's a part of our inheritance. I can't see any harm,” she said. “I really am angry because what they've taken away is valuable.”
Mrs Ryley hit back at allegations of racism, saying the pub frequently hosts Indian weddings, and said she does not understand how people could be offended by the dolls.
When asked about her husband being photographed in a T-shirt from the far-right group Britain First, Mrs Ryley said: “I don’t think Chris is a supporter of Britain First, he was just wearing that shirt because it was convenient at the time.”
The pub has been banned from being considered for any awards by the Campaign for Real Ales (Camra) and the group said it would not be included in its Good Beer Guide "while these discriminatory dolls continue to be on display".
No arrests have been made in connection to the alleged hate crime.
Essex Police are asking for anyone with information or footage to call 101.
