HUNDREDS of homophobic, racist and bigoted pieces of graffiti have been reported in Glasgow in recent years.

Since 2016, there has been more than 15,000 incidences of the vandalism removed by the city council.

More than 700 if them were sectarian remarks and more than 650 were of a sexual nature.

In 2018, there were 234 obscene pieces removed, and 202 sectarian slurs scrubbed off buildings.

Earlier this year, a man who scrawled anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi symbols on a politician’s office window was jailed for more than two years.

James Malcolm, 18, painted symbols, including a Star of David being hung on gallows, at MSP Rona Mackay’s office.

Overall the number of racist incidents are declining, with the removal of 54 graffiti acts in 2018 compared to 90 in 2016.

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Last year there were reports of 12 homophobic pieces removed, compared to 18 the previous year and just eight in 2016.

Sophie Bridger, manager at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender charity Stonewall Scotland, said: “Although attitudes towards LGBT people have improved over the last few years, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse are still a big problem in our society. “Whether it’s on someone’s home or a public street, anti-LGBT graffiti can make people feel unsafe.

“The decrease we’ve seen in homophobic graffiti in Glasgow is very welcome, but the fact that one in five LGBT people in Scotland have experienced some form of hate crime or hate incident over the last year shows that this problem is still very real.

“We will continue to do our work to ensure LGBT people are safe on every street.”

Meanwhile sectarian and obscene graffiti incidents remained steadily high, falling near the 200 mark year by year.

Dave Scott, who is director of anti-sectarian charity Nil by Mouth, said the stark figures were of “pure hatred and ignorance”.

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He blasted:  "It’s depressing that morons with spray cans continue to make the city look bad by scrawling bigotry on our walls. I understand that the Council prioritise removing this type of garbage and that’s the correct approach. It’s not art or a form of cultural expression: just plain hatred and ignorance. But clearing it is only half the battle.

"Sadly, Sectarianism is still part of day to day life in Glasgow and this rise in incidents of sectarian graffiti reflect very real tensions in the city over the past year or so. 
"That’s why we are keen to work with the city’s schools, colleges and artistic community on public art projects that help tell Glasgow’s story, warts and all, in a way that provokes debate and discussion rather than division."

General graffiti has also risen in recent years, with a whopping 5,538 vandalism pieces having to be removed.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “Glasgow City Council takes a zero tolerance approach to sectarianism in all its forms and works with partners to stamp it out.

"This includes encouraging people to report religious based hate crimes and educating our young people about diversity, equality and inclusion.

“This behaviour is not acceptable and we aim to remove sectarian graffiti within two days of it being reported.

“Removing graffiti costs the council up to £500,000 per year.”

Read more of today's top Glasgow stories.