Plans are afoot to kick racists and homophobics in Colchester into touch.
Councillors approved the idea of a diversity policy to tackle prejudice and intolerance in the borough last night.
It was revealed that an "alarming" 1,400 borough residents voted for the BNP in the European elections.
Members of the cabinet were shown slides of racist and homophobic graffiti found in the area to support the moves.
Matthew Young, head of council social and economic regeneration, told the town hall meeting: "Colchester, on the whole, is a lovely town to live in, but we do have occasional examples of racist and homophobic graffiti around the borough."
The policy and plan would strive to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect and eliminate all forms of harassment.
Cabinet members welcomed the initiative's inclusion into the council's corporate policy framework.
However, concerns about its financial implications were raised.
Leader of the council John Jowers (Con, West Mersea) said the council cannot afford to have an "open cheque book" for every scheme of merit.
Published Thursday July 1, 2004
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