Two women have been arrested after the main office of Ipswich Borough Council was daubed in pink graffiti by members of a political party.
The council's Grafton House office in Russell Road was targeted by environmentalists on Monday morning, February 15.
A message in bright pink paint reading "tough love" and "12 demands ultimatum" was sprayed on the front door and windows and the Burning Pink party has claimed responsibility.
Several police cars attended the scene, while the council's graffiti team removed the message early Monday morning.
A spokesman for Burning Pink confirmed the party were behind the vandalism, which came as part of a move against 15 councils nationwide who in their opinion have failed to act on their promises after declaring a climate emergency.
Ipswich Borough Council refutes these claims.
The group says it issued its 12 demands to the councils last month.
The spokesman said: “We gave them four weeks to give an adequate response, and they didn’t.
“We are completely non-violent but our direct actions are in your face, We simply don’t have time to waste anymore. This is not extreme this is common sense, we are being the voice of reason. We have to stop this death march."
A Suffolk police spokeswoman confirmed two women, aged 65 and 40, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They remain at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman said the council is continuing to do its part to help the environment.
The spokesman said: "Ipswich Borough Council condemns the vandalism of its property.
"The people who did this breached the lockdown rules to do so. There will be additional and unnecessary costs to clean it up at a time when the council is already facing a budget shortfall due to Covid.
"The group that is thought to have carried out this vandalism is making demands around climate change. However, the council has already declared a climate emergency, has been reducing its carbon footprint for years and has a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
"Just last week the council’s executive agreed to acquire a site for a new carbon neutral depot to run key services from; we’ve already spent millions on new electric and lower emission vehicles, made thousands of council houses more energy efficient through solar panels and better insulation and have planted hundreds of new trees.
"Climate change is everyone’s responsibility – while the council is playing its part, the government and others need to do their bit too."
Those who witnessed the incident are asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 37/7544/21.
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