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A black man from Cardiff has claimed that he was “racially profiled” at Hobbycraft after workers refused to sell him paint in case he would use it for “doing graffiti”.
Louis Gray, who works at Sport Wales as an equality, range and inclusion supervisor, mentioned he was together with his four-year-old son on the time, and had gone to purchase spray paint to repaint the kid’s bicycle helmet within the colors of his favorite mountain bike rider.
But writing in a thread on X which was later taken down, Mr Gray mentioned he was “refused service” as a result of he was black. He claimed he discovered himself surrounded by three workers members, together with one who was “wearing a bodycam to record the transaction” and one who raised his hand to sign extra workers to be part of.
He mentioned the shop supervisor on the Harlech retail park in Newport mentioned: “We can’t serve you, you could be doing graffiti with this”.
“I was refused service because I am Black and wearing a Nike tracksuit, and Yeezys [trainers],” he mentioned.
Hobbycraft mentioned they’ve launched an investigation into the matter however that workers appeared to have refused the sale as a result of they might not confirm the shopper’s age for an merchandise that was in an age-restricted class.
It is an offence to sell spray paints to folks beneath the age of 16 to “reduce the incidence of criminal damage” brought on by acts of graffiti.
Hobbycraft mentioned the workers had been following their “Challenge 25” coverage, which asks anybody who seems under 25 years of age for ID whereas buying such merchandise.
“We would once again like to apologise for your recent experience in our store, we have a zero tolerance approach to racism here at Hobbycraft and this is not how we want any of our customers to feel,” Hobbycraft mentioned in an e mail, in accordance to the Daily Mail.
“We are continuing to investigate this with our Newport store team. Your situation involved the purchase of an age restricted product which requires age verification, meaning all colleagues are trained to ask for ID should they believe the customer is under the age of 25. As you were unable to share ID with our colleagues, they were unfortunately unable to authorise the sale.”
The Independent has approached Hobbycraft for remark.
Mr Gray accused the shop of utilizing the Challenge 25 coverage to “justify their bias”. “They said to me, ‘you could be a mystery shopper trying to catch us out’,” mentioned Mr Gray. “But the shop is on a retail park you have to drive to, and I was with a big four-year-old – who looks six, who was telling them he just wanted to paint his helmet. I haven’t been IDed anywhere for at least eight years.”
He mentioned they had been solely in a position to purchase the paint after calling his white grandad to make the acquisition in what he was a “degrading experience”.
“Funny how, a white man came and purchased the paint, and did not get IDed. He simply said ‘he’s not with me, I promise I’m over 16 and the paint is for me’. A white promise is held with higher regard than a Black promise? Is the Black pound not worth anything at @Hobbycraft??”
Mr Gray mentioned the incident left his son with questions and would affect his future, urging the shop to apologise to his son.
He mentioned his son requested him: “Did you not get served because you were black, Dad?” and that the boy, who has lighter pores and skin than his father, then mentioned: “If I looked like you, Dad, would I get served?”
He mentioned: “How do I answer those questions? Hobbycraft have put me in a situation now where I am having to have these conversations with my four-year-old about race.”
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