The statue of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell in Dorset will be removed tomorrow (Friday, June 12) and placed in "safe storage" following concerns about his actions while in the military and "Nazi sympathies".

Campaigners said his founding of the scouting movement "can be no excuse for his documented homophobia, racism and enthusiastic support of Hitler".

The leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Vikki Slade said she recognised some of his actions were “less worthy of commemoration” and said the statue would be removed "for now" to “create time for views to be aired”.

Concerns were also raised that its presence could provoke "public disorder or anti-social behaviour".

The Westmorland Gazette: Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell. Picture: PA WireScouts founder Robert Baden-Powell. Picture: PA Wire

'Growing calls to remove a number of statues across the UK'

There are growing calls for statues commemorating people who were involved in the slave trade or known to be racist.

They follows the removal of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston during anti-racism protests in Bristol on Sunday.

Dozens of statues identified nationwide 

Topple the Racists has identified dozens of statues across the UK which it says commemorate people with a “responsibility for colonial violence”.

Its website says it is not calling for statues to be torn down and says decisions should be made locally.

But where are they located? 

Here is the full list of statues in the UK that campaigners want to remove

As of June 11, here are the names and locations of the statues earmarked to be removed by campaigners:

  • Lord Kitchener, Orkney
  • Duke of Sutherland, Golspie
  • Jim Crow, Dunoon
  • Henry Dundas, Edinburgh
  • Lord Roberts, Glasgow
  • Thomas Carlyle, Glasgow
  • Sir Robert Peel, Glasgow
  • Colin Campbell, Glasgow
  • John Moore, Glasgow
  • James George Smith Neill, Ayr
  • William Armstrong, Newcastle
  • Captain James Cook, Great Ayton
  • Robert Peel, Bradford
  • Robert Peel, Leeds
  • Robert Peel, Preston
  • Robert Peel, Bury
  • Robert Peel, Manchester
  • Bryan Blundell, Liverpool
  • Christopher Columbus, Liverpool
  • Martin's Bank, Liverpool
  • Admiral Nelson, Liverpool
  • William Leverhulme, Wirral
  • Henry Morton Stanley, St Asaph
  • Henry Morton Stanley, Denbigh
  • William Gladstone, Hawarden
  • Elihu Yale, Wrexham
  • Green Man, Ashbourne
  • Robert Clive, Shropshire
  • Robert Peel, Tamworth
  • Robert Peel, Birmingham
  • Ronald A Fisher, Cambridge
  • Cecil Rhodes, Bishops Stortford
  • Thomas Phillips, Brecon
  • General Nott, Carmarthen
  • Thomas Picton, Carmarthen
  • Henry Austin Bruce, Cardiff
  • Thomas Picton, Cardiff
  • Codrington Library, Oxford
  • Cecil Rhodes, Oxford
  • Edward Colston (school 1), Bristol
  • Edward Colston (school 2), Bristol
  • Edward Colston (statue), Bristol
  • Edward Colston (tower), Bristol
  • Edward Colston (hall), Bristol
  • George Alfred Wills, Bristol
  • William Beckford, London
  • Robert Geffrye, London
  • Francis Galton, London
  • King Charles II, London
  • King James II, London
  • Robert Clive, London
  • Oliver Cromwell, London
  • Robert Clayton, London
  • Henry De la Beche, London
  • Christopher Columbus, London
  • Thomas Guy (1/2), London
  • Thomas Guy (2/2), London
  • Robert Milligan, London
  • Francis Drake, London
  • Robert Blake, London
  • Admiral Nelson, London
  • Captain Edward August Lendy, London
  • East India Estate, London
  • Stephen Clark, London
  • Charles James Napier, London
  • Earl Mountbatten, London
  • Jan Smuts, London
  • Admiral Horatio Nelson, London
  • Lord Kitchener, Chatham
  • Edward Codrington, Brighton
  • William Ewart Gladstone, Brighton
  • Drax family, Wareham
  • Robert Baden-Powell, Poole
  • Redvers Buller, Exeter
  • Francis Drake, Tavistock
  • Walter Raleigh, Bodmin
  • Nancy Astor, Plymouth
  • Francis Drake, Plymouth  

What else has been said about the Baden-Powell statue?

Former Bournemouth East Labour parliamentary candidate Corrie Drew has already come out in opposition to its presence.

She said his "documented homophobia, racism and enthusiastic support of Hitler" could not be excused by him founding the Scouting movement.

The statue was first erected in 2008 facing Brownsea Island and has become a focal point for celebrations by Scouts.

But BCP Council said it recognised Robert Baden-Powell's negative aspects and would put it into storage temporarily.

In a statement, it said it “acknowledges differing views” on his “life activities” and said the removal was to “create time for all views to be aired and to minimise the risk of any public disorder or anti-social behaviour”.

Council leader Vikki Slade said: “Whilst famed for the creation of the Scouts, we also recognise that there are some aspects of Robert Baden-Powell’s life that are considered less worthy of commemoration.

“Therefore, we are removing the statue so that we can properly involve all relevant communities and groups in discussions about its future, including whether a more educational presentation of his life in a different setting might be more appropriate.”

Councillor Mark Howell, the cabinet member for regeneration and ward councillor for Poole Town, said he believed on "on balance" that Robert Baden-Powell's contribution to society was "positive"

The council said Dorset County Scouts was “supportive” of its decision.

But Andrew Williams, the chairman of Poole Scout District Executive, said he had not been contacted and thought the news must have been "a hoax".