Police are investigating a suspected hate crime after a man was caught on camera dumping raw meat outside the entrance to a Sikh temple in the Black Country.
CCTV captures disturbing incident
Closed-circuit television footage shows a man emptying the contents of a bag directly in front of the gates of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Edward Street in West Bromwich. The incident occurred at 4pm on Monday, December 22, 2025.
The Gurdwara committee later confirmed the substance was raw meat, an act considered deeply offensive and sacrilegious within the Sikh faith, which respects all living beings.
Police record religiously aggravated offence
West Midlands Police are probing the actions as "racially and religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress". The crime reference number is 20/485135/25.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and police inquiries are ongoing. The Gurdwara committee has formally reported the act as a hate crime.
In response, temple representatives held multiple meetings with police, local Members of Parliament, and councillors on Tuesday, December 23. They received assurances that the matter was being treated with utmost seriousness.
Community calls for vigilance and information
The Gurdwara committee has urged the sangat (Sikh congregation) to remain vigilant. They have also asked anyone with information about the individual involved to come forward.
Jasveer Singh, Senior Press Officer for Sikh PA, commented on the wider context of the attack. "Sikhs have been immersed in the local community in West Bromwich for decades," he said.
He highlighted that the community is integral to local business, sport, and service, making it unlikely a local resident would be unaware of the Gurdwara's significance.
Singh pointed to a pattern of concerning incidents, noting recent similar events in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Oldbury, Nuneaton, and Coventry. This has created ongoing tension, with UK Sikh communities feeling directly targeted by bigotry.
"Grassroots efforts to safeguard continue, as do efforts to ensure appropriate police action is taken," he added.
The committee is encouraging anyone with information to contact West Midlands Police quoting crime reference 20/485135/25, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
