A plaque commemorating 2,500 African-Caribbean prisoners transported to Britain in 1796 was stolen from Portchester Castle near Portsmouth within days of its installation.
The plaque honored men, women and children who arrived at the Hampshire fortress as prisoners of war. Ronald Raymond McDonald, a professional drummer, traveled from Belize as part of a delegation to mark the installation and honor their ancestors.
Descendants of those prisoners say the theft reflects persistent racism targeting Black and Indigenous Caribbean people across generations. They connect the theft to what they describe as centuries of atrocities against their communities.
The plaque represented a rare historical marker. The story of African-Caribbean prisoners held in 18th-century Britain remains little-known in mainstream British history. The 1796 transportation of these individuals to Portchester Castle has received minimal public attention or commemoration until now.
The timing of the theft, occurring shortly after the plaque's placement, drew immediate attention from descendants and historians. The incident prompted discussion about racism in contemporary Britain and how historical injustices against Black communities continue to be minimized or actively suppressed.
No further details about suspects, investigation status or the plaque's current location have been reported.