A shopkeeper who is leading the fight against prostitution in High Town says he is not fazed by what he calls a “smear campaign” against him.
Shahzad Khadam, of M H Supermarket in Old Bedford Road, discovered damaging graffiti on the walls of his shop this morning (July 22).
The graffiti, which appeared overnight, included the (largely misspelt) phrases “You do business with prostitutes - hypocrite” and “we stop your women being raped.”
Mr Khadam said: “It doesn’t bother me too much but the comments are embarrassing as people have been reading them as they walk past. It’s made -up things to make me look bad, it’s a smear campaign. They are resorting to dirty tactics, it’s like what kids would do, making things up.”
The criminal damage, which has been reported to the police, comes days after a five year plan to eradicate prostitution in the area was announced by the council, which Shahzad and other High Town Against Prostitution members have long campaigned for.
Mr Khadam said: “It’s obviously having an effect and that’s why they are doing these things to try and stop me. I want to know where the police were when this damage was being done.”
A Beds Police spokesperson confirmed the damage has been reported to them and enquires are ongoing.