Has 'desirable' Sussex city become a hotbed for thuggery? Residents of Chichester concerned at rise in racist and homophobic abuse as theatre cast targeted by hoodlums

The Cathedral City of Chichester has been described variously as 'sunshine in bricks and mortar' and one of the best places to live in Britain.With its boutique shops, traditional Georgian homes, 16th-century streets and a Roman palace, it is not hard to see the attraction.But some of the shine has been rubbed off the West Sussex market town in recent days as concerned locals fear there is a growing race problem. Allegations of racism were first made by Taskmaster comedian and actor Munya Chawawa.He said he was subjected to racial abuse during a six-week appearance in the city while he was playing Bottom in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.'For some of us, Chichester was a real struggle,' he said in an interview this month. 'I don't know if I have witnessed and/or experienced as much racism, xenophobia and homophobia as I saw in those six weeks. 'I think I saw more in those six weeks than I have actually seen across my entire lifetime.' Chichester to many is a desirable place to live but locals have reported an increase is racism Munya Chawawa said in six weeks in Chichester he experienced more racism and homophobia than anywhere else in the United KingdomNow following on from the actor's claims, locals have told the Daily Mail they too fear far-Right thuggery is on the rise in the city.Everett Dean, 34, said: 'I didn't witness the incidents but I can well believe they happened.'There has been a breakdown in respect in society and mobs of disaffected youths have been directing some of their anger at lack of opportunity at other groups who they blame for their dissatisfaction.'It's a huge social and political problem and something, I feel, can only be fixed by making young people feel like they have a future to look forward to and things to do which they feel invested in.' Cheryl Haines, who lives in nearby Pagham, said: 'It's just so hateful. I don't want to believe it but I know it's true.'It seems to be confined to a small minority of youths but it is still worrying and I just hope this behaviour stops soon. I can't believe one victim was chased down the street.'With its close proximity to a stunning coastline and the South Downs National Park, the cathedral city has long been named as a very desirable place to live. Actor Kate Winslet and guitar legend Keith Richards are both near neighbours and the ancient city was recently named by an online travel agency as one of the fastest growing destinations for day trippers and tourists.However, last year, the St George's Cross - a symbol weaponised by the far-Right - was graffitied across the town whilst anti-migrant protestors gathered outside The Park Hotel, over fears it was to be used to house refugees and asylum seekers.BBC1 Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies commented on Instagram: 'Wow, I went there recently. Not any more!' Munya Chawawa appeared at Chichester theatre in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream Locals of the Cathedral City have shared fears about men on bikes racially abusing people Chichester was a Roman settlement which held the largest Roman villa in Britain called Fishbourne Palace home to the 150AD mosaic known as Cupid-riding-a-dolphinMayor Sean McHale said Mr Chawawa's experiences left him 'sad' and 'disappointed' in an interview with the Chichester Observer.He said: 'The vast majority of people in Chichester are open and welcoming. 'We demonstrated that in 2022 and 2023 when we took in so many Ukrainian refugees and got national recognition for that.'But clearly, if this took place over a six week period then we have got a problem in Chichester caused by the minority.' Mr McHale added that the town tries to make everyone feel welcome: 'But clearly we are not doing enough and we want to find out why we are not doing enough. 'I have reached out to Munya. I have asked to meet because I want to know first hand what happened to him because it is appalling.' Mayor Sean McHale has accepted there is a problem with racism in the city of Chichester Police have arrested one 16-year-old boy over a homophobic attack which happened in the cityWill Van Dyke, 29, who has lived in Chichester for three and a half years, said: 'I hope these were isolated incidents involving just a small number of people out to cause trouble rather than a growing trend. Steve Bannerman, who moved to Chichester six months ago, said he was 'hugely shocked' after hearing about the homophobic and racist attacks.He added: 'People should be able to walk down the street without worrying about whether their sexuality or ethnicity is going to lead to them being targeted by others.'Tudor Watkins, 43, who grew up in Pembrokeshire, south Wales, but lives in neighbouring Bosham, said: 'I think there has been a rise in prejudice which is being fuelled by the right wing. 'People are feeling hugely emboldened and are targeting those people they can see are different from them.'Mr Watkins added that he didn't think the recent rise in intolerance was a problem particular to Chichester.In his interview with The Stage, Mr Chawawa said the production had to cancel a show because one cast member was attacked just before they were due on stage. He said: 'That is just the tip of the iceberg. Students from the BRIT School came to watch the show, a car drove past them and shouted 'blackies'. 'A boy pulled up on a bike calling other visitors the "n word".'Another group of friends came to see the show, they were followed to their hotel by a group of men and women who were chanting 'dirty' at them. It was just utterly abysmal.'The actor described being 'stared at in the street' and noticing that the only black man on a barber's sign had 'three scratch marks through his face'. Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T Davies has said he will boycott the city over racism claimsJustin Audibert, artistic director, and Kathy Bourne, executive director, from Chichester Festival Theatre said in a joint statement: They were 'appalled and profoundly saddened' by the incidents.'It's deeply dismaying that the nationwide increase in toxic and aggressive behaviour is being reflected in our city.'Sussex Police said one 16-year-old boy had been arrested over the homophobic attack and had been bailed pending an investigation.A spokesman said: 'Police are investigating a report of homophobic abuse by three young men on bicycles towards a man. The incident is being treated as a hate crime.'