National
Civil Rights Movement (South West)
~~~~ Number
3 ~~~~
The National Civil Rights Movement in
the South West believes that the increasing problem of racist violence and
abuse in this region has been ignored by too many for too long. This Bulletin highlights only some of
the press-headlined stories reporting incidents of racist violence and abuse
that have taken place in this region.
It is aimed at stimulating wider and essential public discussion on the
reality of racist violence and abuse in rural areas, and the misery and
suffering caused to black and minority ethnic people. We invite you to copy and distribute this Bulletin as you
see fit.
Visit our website if you require more
information about the National Civil Rights Movement. Contact us by Email or telephone if you require advice
and support following a racist attack or police harassment against you, your
family or your business, or if you wish to report incidents of racist violence
and abuse in this region.
Website:
www.ncrm.org.uk Email: ncrmsouthwest@aol.com Tel: 07940 514270
24
Hr Racist Violence and Policing Issues Helpline: FREEPHONE 0800 374 618
Chaos
broke out in Chippenham town centre in the early hours of Saturday morning when
police were caught up in three separate incidents within minutes of each
other. Officers were called
following reports that a man had been attacked with a glass inside Rush
nightclub and that another man was trying to attack people in a takeaway about 100 yards up the
road. But on their way to
investigate a driver carried out a U-turn and crashed into a police van.
The
drama began at about 1.20am.
More than 100 revellers were thought to be milling around the town
centre at the time watching the events unfold. At Rush nightclub on The Bridge, an ambulance arrived
following an alleged incident inside in which a man had been injured with a
glass.
Police arrested a local
man and the injured man was taken to hospital. However, when the victim arrived
at Bath's Royal United Hospital he took off his bandages and walked out without
having treatment. The man in
custody has since been released on police bail without being charged.
Meanwhile,
at about the same time, there was a disturbance outside the Charcoal Grill
takeaway in New Road. A man in his
late teens and his girlfriend were involved in a row with customers inside the
premises. He was being abusive
and aggressive, trying to attack people, and had to be held back by others. When police tried to stop him they were
spat at, and one was kicked, while the man hurled racist abuse at staff
inside the takeaway. His girlfriend also
tried to assault someone inside the shop and tried to break a window, and she
then spat at officers as they tried to arrest her.
Two
Chippenham teenagers were being held in custody in connection with the
incident. Meanwhile some officers
were held up after a crash outside Superdrug. A Seat car was carrying out a U-turn in the middle of the
road and collided with the police van.
Both drivers were breathalysed, but the tests were negative.
Report
by Bath Chronicle 03/09/2001
An
elderly couple were nearly killed when a Lawrence Weston man who went out driving
in a fit of temper ploughed into their car at high speed. Terrance Wootten, of Bangrove Walk, was
doing 74mph on the wrong side of the road in a 30mph zone when he smashed
head-on into the car being driven by David Guscott. Mr Guscott suffered cracked ribs, a broken finger and
severe bruising and his wife, 79-year-old Frances Guscott, had a cracked
sternum, cracked ribs and a broken collarbone and bruising in the accident in
Shirehampton.
Bristol
Crown Court heard the Guscotts' car was knocked back through a hedge by
Wootten's Cavalier, which was forced back on to its own side of the road where
it caught fire. Wootten,
aged 28, admitted dangerous driving, threatening behaviour, threatening to
damage or destroy property and driving with no insurance. Prosecutor Ramin Pakrooh said
tests had later shown that Wootten's car was travelling at no less than 74mph
when the accident happened.
Jailing Wootten for two and a half years, Judge Thomas told him:
"As a result of taking out your aggression in the car on the road, you
very nearly killed Mr and Mrs Guscott."
The
court was told that in a separate incident Wootten again lost his temper and threatened
to burn down a woman's shop after making racist remarks. Mr Pakrooh said that on
January 13, Smita Patel and Kanta Patel were in their newspaper shop in Lawrence
Weston when Wootten went in asking to put credit onto a gas card. There was a
dispute and Wootten became abusive to both women, who were both frightened when
he swore, twice made racist remarks and threatened to burn the shop down. He was tracked down through details of
the card transaction in the shop.
Simon
Goodman, defending, said Wootten was a changed man and one of the things which
he had done was to go out driving when he felt bad. He said: "He lost his temper, he's ashamed of
doing so." Mr Goodman
said Wootten was anxious that it should be known that he was not a racist.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 05/09/2001
A
member of the Bristol West Conservative Association who said Nelson Mandela
should have been hanged has been thrown out of the party. Robert Phillips, from
Radstock, made the comments in a letter to black Tory peer Lord Taylor of
Warwick. The correspondence was passed to Conservative Central Office which has
withdrawn Mr Phillips' membership.
The
letter was written on notepaper used by the extremist anti-immigration
organisation, Choice. Mr Phillips
attacked Lord Taylor's stance against racism in the party and said: "Mandela
should have been hanged, whilst they had the chance." The letterhead on the notepaper
read: "Racism is realism. White to work. Racialism is patriotism. Racism is resistance. Stop this multi-racial madness."
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 07/09/2001
A
football supporter accused of being in a group chanting racial abuse at Cherries striker
Chukki Eribenne during last Saturday's match will learn that he faces a ban
from home matches and a disciplinary hearing when he gets to the ground today.
Eribenne, 20, who had to
be substituted because of the trouble, can expect a warm welcome on to the
pitch as AFC Bournemouth faces Swindon at home while the accused fan will be
told of an immediate 28-day ban pending the hearing. Although the hearing and the potential life ban that stems from
that if the supporter is convicte, is the club's own internal affair, police
officers will be present this afternoon in case there is any friction. The Cherries fan in question has
been singled out after questionnaires on the incident at Cambridge United's
ground last week posted on a club fans' website on Monday were returned by
others present at the game.
Bournemouth
Independent
Supporters Association's health and safety representative, Gayle Hope, said:
"We had a very positive response to the questionnaires and about 20 were
returned to us with information including details of racist comments and who
they were aimed at. Other fans have contacted the club direct and some have
gone to the police. "It is
possible if a supporter is convicted that a long ban could be imposed, possibly
a life ban by the disciplinary committee." Football intelligence officer, PC Bill Russell, said:
"Crowd control officers will be involved at Saturday's game in case any
trouble flares up in relation to this matter."
Report
by The Dorset Echo 08/09/2001
Town councillors have launched a campaign against vandals daubing racist
graffiti slogans around Burnham and Highbridge. The council has put up
a £200 reward for the conviction of yobs who are slapping so-called
'taglines' around the towns on walls and buildings. Police, Sedgemoor District Council and CCTV operators at
Bridgwater House are joining the battle against spray painters who have stepped
up their vandalism spree in recent weeks.
Areas to have been hit include the Oxford Street car parks and the Apex
Park toilets with anti-black slogans being scrawled in spray paint. Burnham councillor Neville Jones said:
"We are suffering with a spate of graffiti and vandalism such as has not
been seen in this town for some time.
"There has been a series of racist slogans which I have never seen
before. "We must do
everything we can to prevent the vandalism which is going on.
The
CCTV operators at Sedgemoor have been asked to look very carefully and the
police are also going to keep a special watch. "We must try and stamp it
out." Council bosses are
already looking at getting specialist solvent to remove the graffiti and are
hoping talks with the probation service will also help the problem. Town clerk Eileen Shaw said: "We
are doing everything we can to stop this, but we do not have eyes in the back
of our head. "If anybody sees
new instances of graffiti we would ask them to contact the town clerk's
office." Anybody who
sees graffiti being daubed should contact police on the Crimestoppers number,
0800 555111. If you see new
graffiti you can contact the town clerk's office at Jaycroft Road on 01278
788088.
Report
by The Burnham Times 08/09/2001
Two
teenagers have been arrested for racial abuse and assault. The two men, aged 19 and 16, both from Bath, were arrested at 9am
yesterday following an incident in the early hours of Saturday. The suspects
were interviewed in connection with a violent disorder and racially
aggravated assault in London Road when a couple were assaulted and racially abused. The suspects have been
arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Report
by Bath Chronicle 13/09/2001
Racists ‘taunt’
children in city
Racism against children and young people is a major
problem in Plymouth, campaigners said today. Ethnic
minorities' representatives and groups, including the city council and police,
met at the Guildhall last night to discuss the report ‘Black Voices in
Plymouth'.
The report, the first of
its kind in the city, was commissioned by children's charity NCH and the
Plymouth District Racial Equality Council through their project
N'Deagainsia. Project
manager Heather Reid said: "Racism experienced by children and young
people is a problem in Plymouth and impacts on their ability to fulfil their
potential. "All
organisations working with ethnic minority children and young people need to
develop strategies to ensure that they can meet these children's needs."
Fifty families, groups
and agencies talked to the survey team over a period of weeks. One mother said: "My son has had a
lot of problems with children hitting him, throwing stones at him, backing him
in doorways and calling him names. He has been having a series of problems of
bullying and name-calling."
An African Caribbean woman said: "I have been spat at; I have been
pushed; but I try to ignore all of that." N'Deagainsia is calling on all relevant bodies in the
city to demonstrate a commitment to addressing racism and to meeting the needs
of black and minority ethnic children, young people, their families and carers.
Report by Plymouth Evening Herald
14/09/2001
Some
of the original charges against six people allegedly involved in a night of
violence outside a house in North Prospect have been withdrawn and replaced
with new ones by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Richard Thomas, aged 20, of Ainslie Terrace, Camels Head,
had a charge of joint aggravated burglary withdrawn and now faces two
charges of racially aggravated criminal damage. He was given conditional bail to
next appear before city magistrates on September 28. Simon Hobbs, aged 27, of St Aubyn Road,
Devonport, also had a charge of joint aggravated burglary withdrawn and is
now charged with racially aggravated criminal damage. He denied to the charge and was
given conditional bail until November 9.
Richard Clarke, aged 40, of Woodville Road, North Prospect, had charges
of violent disorder and affray withdrawn and replaced with charges of joint
racially aggravated violent disorder on August 5 and racially
aggravated criminal damage on August 25, plus two charges of
assault causing actual bodily harm to police on August 25. He pleaded not guilty to joint
racially aggravated violent disorder on August 5 and was given conditional bail
until November 9. Anthony
Clarke, aged 45, of Halcyon Road, North Prospect, had a charge of affray
withdrawn and replaced with a charge of joint racially aggravated violent
disorder. He
denied the charge and was given conditional bail until November 9.
A charge of violent disorder on August 25 against Karen
Glaysher, aged 40, of Grassendale Avenue, North Prospect, was withdrawn. She still faces a charge of
assault on police and was bailed until September 28. A charge of violent disorder against a 16-year-old
youth was withdrawn. He now faces a
charge of joint racially aggravated criminal damage and was
given conditional bail until November 9. A charge of violent disorder against a 13-year-old
youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was withdrawn and he was released
without any further charges.
Report by Plymouth Evening Herald
15/09/2001
CRICKET FANS A ‘DISGRACE'
Devon Cricket
League bosses have been blasted by Barton chairman Paul
Elmore for failing to act on allegations of racist and yobbish behaviour by
some Paignton supporters during last month's Saccone &
Speed Cup final at Bovey Tracey. Paignton took a large number of supporters with them
to the match, some of whom Barton claim taunted their players while they were
fielding in the second innings.
Retired policeman Brian Tapley, who was
watching son Simon playing for Barton, has said he clearly heard racist
remarks being hurled towards Barton's Pakistani professional Aqeel Ahmed while
he was bowling.
Fruit was also thrown onto the field from the corner of the ground where
the Paignton supporters had congregated.
Barton, who lost the match, complained within days of the
final, only for the league to reply that no further action would be taken. Elmore said that simply wasn't good
enough and accused the league's management of double standards. And he said Barton's own disciplinary
problems in the past had coloured the management committee's judgement. "They have to be even-handed
about this," said Elmore. "Had the complaint come from Torquay or
Paignton, I am sure it would have been treated differently. "There are people on the league
management committee who think Barton are only fit to be in a Sunday League,
and because we have had problems before don't treat us seriously. "There were even people at the
final who thought it was our supporters who were behaving badly, just because
of our supposed reputation.
"We have no axe to grind with Paignton's players — the game was
played in the right spirit and the best side won on the day. "But when Paignton
complained a couple of years ago that one of their players was subjected to
racist abuse by Axminster supporters, they had the club in and dealt with
them. "Why should it be
any different when the complaint comes from Barton?"
Tapley claimed some
Paignton supporters spent the first half of the game in a pub before returning
to the ground in time for the second innings. He alleged racist remarks were made towards Aqeel, adding
good-humoured banter turned into crude insults as the game wore on. One Barton fielder was repeatedly
insulted on a personal basis and became so upset by the taunts he had to be
moved to a different fielding position. Tapley claimed he recognised at least three Paignton
playing members in the group of supporters and was disgusted they did nothing
to stop the comments. "The
abusive comments, both crude and racist, made to the Barton professional were
absolutely disgraceful," said Tapley. "This emanated from only a few Paignton
"supporters" and I hasten to add that many real Paignton supporters
were also disgusted. "The
actions of these idiots left a sour taste on what was really an excellent day's
cricket. "As a
Devonian, I apologise to Aqeel for the treatment he received and hope he will
return again."
League secretary Geoff
Coish said competition officials tried to deal with the incidents on the day,
but were concerned they could inflame the situation if they got too heavy
handed. He added; "It is a
pity, and a reflection on our current society, that the action of a few can
spoil what was probably the most exciting and well supported match of the
season." Paignton
chairman Colin Knight was asked to comment but declined, saying he had not seen
any correspondence from either Barton or the league on the incidents. Captain
Justin Mann was also unwilling to comment. Two years ago Paignton complained to the league
about racist comments made towards South African player Rashid Lewis during a
cup tie at Axminster. The East Devon club were disciplined by the league and
banned from playing at home in the competition for two seasons.
Report by Torquay Herald Express
15/09/2001
Muslim
communities across the West were last night bracing themselves for a wave
of retaliatory attacks following the American atrocity. Already a 19-year-old woman
has been bludgeoned with a baseball bat by two white thugs. Leaders of Swindon's 1,700 Moslems were appalled, but
not overly surprised, by the attack in the town on the woman wearing a
traditional head scarf.
Now
community chiefs are urging their people to take precautions when venturing out
for fear of further reprisals against innocent members of the Islamic faith as
a backlash to the terror attacks in New York and Washington. The Swindon assault coincided with
the creation of a network of incident rooms in large Moslem areas across the UK
where people can report attacks and learn basic security and safety skills.
Since
Tuesday's terrorist outrage Moslem women have been branded murderers,
mosques vandalised and, in one case, a bomb threat made, according to the Moslem News in
London. The West attack happened
as the victim, who has not been named, was walking home from her job at the
Halfords superstore on the edge of Swindon town centre at 8.15pm on Friday.
Police say two men waylaid her in Graham Street and that one of them struck
her over the head several times with a silver baseball bat.
The victim needed
hospital treatment for a badly bruised head and was yesterday recovering at
home. Her assailant is described
as between 22 and 30, 5ft 10ins tall with short dark hair, a goatee beard and
wearing a dark Puffa jacket. His accomplice wore a hooded top. Police, who are appealing for
witnesses, said there was no solid evidence to link the attack to the horrific
events in Manhattan although it was believed to have been racially motivated.
However, one of Swindon's senior Moslems, Khan Nawaz, said that seconds
before the attack a young boy heard one of the thugs say "here's a
Moslem." He has no doubt it
was some form of reaction to the New York disaster.
An
Indian immigrant to America was killed in an apparent revenge attack for the
World Trade Centre and Pentagon terror attacks. Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh, was shot and killed at the
petrol station he owned in Mesa, Arizona. His brother said he believed the
shooting had been because he "looked like bin Laden, " a reference to
Osama bin Laden, the suspected terrorist mastermind behind the attacks.
Report
by Western Daily Press 17/09/2001
Asian woman, 19, attacked by pair with a baseball
bat
Racist
thugs attacked an Asian woman using a baseball bat. Two white men set on the 19-year-old in
Graham Street, close to the junction of Manchester Road. She was struck about the head seven
times before people came to her assistance.
The
attack happened at about 8.15pm on Friday, when the town centre would have been
busy. The woman was taken to PMH
for treatment, but she has since been released. The first man attacked the woman with what she described as
a silver baseball bat. She said he
was aged between 22 and 30, 5ft 10in, wore a dark quilted jacket and had a
goatie beard and short fair hair.
The
only information the woman could give about the second man was that he was
wearing a hooded top. Police
are appealing for witnesses to what they confirm was a racist attack, and for the second
person present at the attack to come forward. Please call the police on Swindon
528111 if you have any information.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 17/09/2001
A
Teenage German girl was the victim of a racist sex attack in the centre of Bath. The girl was punched, kicked to the
ground and then sexually assaulted as she walked to her lodgings through Kingsmead
Square at 11.15pm on Friday.
The attackers were thought to be aged between 16 and 19. One was white,
5ft 8ins with highlighted short hair, a nose ring and a goatee beard. The
second was white, the same height with short black hair, in a white pullover
and dark trousers.
Report
by Western Daily Press 18/09/2001
USA ATTACK: Don't blame us all
Swindon
Islamic leader Khan Nawaz today appealed for calm after a Muslim woman was
attacked in an apparent reprisal attack for the American atrocities. The 19-year-old was badly beaten with
a baseball bat after being approached by two men in the town centre. Police believe the assault is likely to
be directly linked to the destruction of the World Trade Centre and the attack
on the Pentagon, which has been blamed on followers of Islamic fundamentalist
Osama bin Laden.
But
Khan Nawaz, a senior member of the Thamesdown Islamic Association, said British
Muslims abhorred the attacks on civilians in America. And he warned that the town was in danger of being divided
by racists using the terrorism as an excuse to stir up mistrust and
hatred. Mr Nawaz said the girl who
was attacked moved to London when she was three, before coming to Swindon. He said: "The girl is a British
Muslim. She has no connections with terrorists, she is not concerned with their
objectives. "What does
she know about terrorist groups. Why are people offended by a girl wearing a
head scarf?"
Mr
Nawaz, 71, has lived in Swindon for 38 years after moving here from Pakistan.
He was among Swindonians attending a memorial service at the town's cenotaph on
Friday. He said the attacks in
America had affected more than 40 countries and hundreds of Muslims were among
the 5,000 people thought to have died.
"This should be solved through negotiation rather than a show of
power and threats," he said.
"I urge the Muslim community not to form vigilante groups. People
should have faith in the police to do their job. They should try to avoid
taking short cuts alone at night."
Mr
Nawaz said he wanted people to try to understand why there are hostile feelings
towards America in some countries such as Iraq and in the Middle East. He said
there was a lot of relevant historical background that may have led to both
hostility and despair. However, he
urged people to separate the acts of terrorists from the majority of the Muslim
community around the world who have condemned the attacks.
The
attack on the 19-year-old Muslim woman happened on Friday evening as she was
walking in Graham Street, close to the junction with Manchester Road. She was
struck about the head seven times, but escaped with severe bruising. If it is a revenge attack, it follows
other incidents across the country where British Muslims have faced an upsurge
in verbal abuse and threats of violence.
Windows were smashed at a mosque in south Belfast and Essex while
mosques in Birmingham have had excrement put through their letter boxes. And in America, two Asian men were
murdered over the weekend in what Muslim and Arab communities fear could be the
first revenge killings.
Swindon
Police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar confirmed police were looking at a possible
link between the attack and events in America. She said: "This was a totally unprovoked and
cowardly attack on a decent and well respected member of the Swindon community
who just happens to be a Muslim. The injuries could have been far worse when
you consider the weapon used and the degree of violence." Both attackers were white. One was aged between
22 and 30, with a thin goatee beard and short fair hair and light blue eyes. He
was wearing a black quilted jacket and a dark polo neck jumper. The other was
wearing dark clothing and a hooded top.
Witnesses are asked to call DC Neil Grabe on 528111 or Crimestoppers on
0800 555111.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 18/09/2001
Police
are hunting two men who hurled racial abuse at three Asian men in a major
disorder incident in Yeovil town centre.
The incident happened at around 2.30am on Saturday 15 August after a
verbal exchange in Middle Street between the three men and a youth with mousey-brown
or ginger hair who was aged 18, of medium build, clean shaven and wore blue
jeans and a white top. He was
joined by six other men and two women. One of the men, who was aged 40 and 6ft
1in tall, was thought to be the youth's father. Police, who were in the area on another matter,
stepped in but by then the two men had disappeared and could not be
traced. The victims are aged
23, 21 and 19. Anyone with
information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Report by The Western
Gazette 20/09/2001
Attack won't delay temple
Vandalism
at a partially-built Sikh Temple should not stop it from opening in time,
builders say. The overnight
attack at the Kembrey Street site in Swindon's Gorse Hill left 10 windows
smashed and an internal wall demolished.
It is thought to have been a misguided racist reprisal for last week's
terrorist atrocities in New York even though the mass murderers are
thought to be Muslims.
The
vandalism at the temple or Gurdwara came not long after a
19-year-old Swindon Muslim woman was attacked in Graham Street by two men with
a baseball bat. Dr Harbans Singh Popli, a prominent member of the Sikh community,
insisted today that people of his faith were against violence. He said: "The attack happened on
Monday night. "I haven't been
there, but I have been told that it was probably more than one person. "They cut the fence around the
site, broke windows and damaged a wall." Turning to the possible motivation for the vandalism, Dr
Popli added: "We condemn all violence in any shape or form by
anybody. "We have no relation
to any terrorist organisation or group.
"We have lived in Swindon for more than 20 years, and there have
never been any incidents of violence from us. "We want to reassure people that we are a peace-loving
community and people, and we want our place of worship to be respected like any
other place of worship. "I
think the people who did this have probably been using the terrorist attack in
America as an excuse, because they are troublemakers."
The
building of the £1.2 million temple is the culmination of some 20 years
of campaigning and fundraising by hundreds of Sikh families in Swindon. The
work is being carried out by builder Crampton Leighfield. Site manager Bob Wood said: "The
temple is due for completion by the end of December, and the vandalism will
have no impact on that. "We
still anticipate finishing on time."
The vandalism, along with last Friday's baseball attack, is being
investigated by Swindon police.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 21/09/2001
Police
forces across the West will be guarding mosques this weekend as officers were
put on red alert to stop more race hate attacks. And Islamic leaders in the region have
warned their communities to stay inside at night amid a growing number of
racial incidents following the terrorist attacks in America.
Ethnic
minorities in cities, towns and villages are living in fear after racist thugs
went on the rampage in many parts of Britain. Islamic leaders met with Home
Secretary David Blunkett and other senior ministers yesterday to call for more
protection. After the meeting,
Moslem leader Yusuf Islam, formerly singer Cat Stevens, said an emergency
hotline for Moslems under attack was the most urgent need, followed by
increased policing and a change in the law to outlaw incitement against
Islam. Stopping race attacks
was the responsibility of everyone and not just the police, Avon and Somerset's
chief constable Steve Pilkington said last night. He said officers in the West would be 'pro-active' and pay
special attention to places that could become targets by 'extremists and
bigots, ' especially places of worship.
"We are calling on all decent people to ensure that this small
minority of bigots do not take advantage of the situation, " said the
chief constable. "We have all got a responsibility for this. My officers
will not tolerate attacks or harassment of any kind."
Islamic
leaders in Bath say they are expecting attacks in the city and are urging
Moslems to stay at home after dark.
Their warning comes after a London taxi driver was paralysed after a
gang beating and a 19year-old Moslem woman from Swindon was viciously beaten
with a baseball bat. Rashad Ahmad
Azami, of the Imam of Islamic Centre in Bath, said he feared reprisal attacks
after an incident in which a few people shouted abuse outside a city mosque. Confidential reports should be
made to the police or alternatively to Support Against Racist Incidents on
0117-9525652
Report
by The Western Daily Press 22/09/2001
Barton to pass ‘racist' row
to Lord's?
Barton
could take their complaint about last month's Devon KO Cup final to Lord's
after being given what they see as the brush off by competition
organisers. Barton are
incensed that the league proposes to take no action over allegations that
Paignton supporters hurled racist insults at their Pakistani spin bowler Aqeel
Ahmed.
The claims were made by
retired policeman Brian Tapley, who was at the game watching son Simon playing
for Barton. Similar claims were
made by Paignton two years ago following alleged racist remarks against
their South African all-rounder Rashid Lewis in a game at Axminster. The East Devon side were carpeted
by the league, fined and banned from playing at home for two years. Barton chairman Paul Elmore said
he wouldn't accept no further action from the league and is threatening to
bring in the ECB. "It
is an option we are considering as we feel very strongly about this," said
Elmore. "The league has
been hard on us in the past and we have done as they said and got our act in
order. "Now it is their turn.
They organised the final on a neutral venue and by the rules of the competition
they are responsible for managing the game."
Tapley repeated his plea
for the league to act, adding he was amazed Paignton hadn't appologised for the
behaviour of their followers.
"The league are behaving like ostriches putting their heads in the
sand, but this thing won't go away," he said.
Report by Torquay Herald Express
22/09/2001
Call in police if you are a racism
victim
The
Exeter Racist Incidents Action Group is urging people to contact the police if
they have witnessed or been a victim of a racist incident. Jon McKenzie, of the Rural Race
Equality Project, said there had been a slight increase in the number of
incidents after the terrorist attacks in the US.
And the group has now issued new advice on how to respond to
incidents and who to contact.
The new community advice notice is this week being distributed to local
employees, organisations, schools and colleges. It is also being used as a model for other districts across
Devon. The notice says that if
anyone has been a victim of or witness to a racist incident, or has any
information about an incident, they should report it without delay. The notice says: "If you
believe that life is threatened, or if any person is injured, or the offenders
are nearby or that immediate action is required, you should dial 999 and ask
for the police."
And it adds that to report a racist incident which does not
fit the above circumstances, or for further advice, people should contact any
of the following during office hours: · Sgt Adam Cornish, police
district diversity officer: 01392 451585, or the police central switchboard:
08705 777 444. · Devon & Exeter Racial Equality Council: 01392
422566. · Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau: 01392 201210. · Rural Race Equality Project: 01392 425517. · Exeter Community Safety Partnership: 01392 265330. · Crimestoppers UK: 0800 555 111.
Report by Exeter Express & Echo
26/09/2001
Three
racially motivated attacks on people and property took place in Frome on Carnival night. A man working in the Charcoal Grill in
Bath Street, Frome, was verbally abused by a group of four men on Saturday night. He followed them out of the shop
to the front of St John's Church in Frome where he was punched in the face
and received a cut below his eye. Earlier
in the day a second man from the take-away was shouted at by a man and the
windscreen of his car was smashed. A
man was later arrested by police.
The
plate glass window at Tulsi, a shop in Catherine Street, was smashed and abuse
shouted
by the culprits also on Saturday night.
Crime
Prevention officer at Frome Police Station, PC Simon Selby, said the actions of
a few individuals was totally stupid and inappropriate. He said: "Rest assured when these
people are arrested they will be dealt with severely, this behaviour will not
be tolerated." Police
are appealing for witnesses to the three incidents
Report
by The Standard & Guardian 27/09/2001
RACE HATE FEAR OVER CITY FIRE
Police
investigating an arson attack at the home of a family in Exeter early today
believe that it was racially motivated. And the victims fear they have
been targeted because of the recent terrorist attacks in America. The middle-aged couple, who come from
Exeter but are of Indian descent, and their son were woken at 5.30am to find
the front door of their home in Mount Pleasant alight and smoke filling their
hallway. They were able to get out
of the property uninjured. But
they say it is the latest in a series of incidents since terrorists struck at
the World Trade Centre.
Mr Singh, who did not wish his full name or address to be
revealed for fear of reprisals, said the incident this morning had terrified
them all. "If we had not
woken when we did and got out, we could have been killed," he added. "We don't go out into town very
much now because we are getting verbal abuse. I am very scared and my wife is
afraid. It is happening three or four times a week. "Somebody has done this
deliberately. It could be with all the trouble in the United States." He said although they had
experienced some racial abuse in the past it has been a lot worse since the
terrorist attack. Mr Singh added: "We are not even Muslims, we are Sikhs.
It is nothing to do with us but it doesn't seem to matter what religion you
are." Mr Singh doesn't
believe that petrol or paraffin was used to start the fire, but papers appear
to have been stuffed through the letter box and plastic bags were found
outside. He said: "I just
think it is stupid if it is racially motivated and something to do with what
happened in the US. It is nothing to do with any of us here. We don't live in
America and we are not terrorists. We want people to know we are all against
what happened in the states. Innocent people got killed for nothing. "But this is absolutely
stupid."
Exeter police say they
are keeping an open mind as to the motive of the attack but cannot discount
that it may have been connected to the recent troubles in America. "Obviously the fire was caused in
a way to endanger life and it is fortunate people were not trapped or killed as
a result of this arson," said PC Roy Adams, of Heavitree Road police
station. "It is a very unfortunate
incident which we are treating very seriously." PC Adams said there had been a few isolated incidents
involving racial tension in the city in the wake of the terrorist attacks in
the US. However, he said there had not been a
noticeable rise in racially motivated incidents. Most problems have involved restaurateurs and take-away
workers being verbally abused - usually by drunken youths. This incident, if related to such reprisals, is by far
the most serious to have happened in the city. Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have
been walking or cycling to work around the time of the fire. A British Gas van parked in the
area was broken into overnight and police are connecting the incident. They
fear the arsonist may have been looking for some flammable substance in the van
to start the fire. The fire
this morning destroyed the front door of the house. The hallway carpet and
walls were also smoke-damaged.
Scenes of crime officers were at the house this morning taking
photographs and collecting forensic evidence. Dave Hughes, station officer at Exeter fire station,
said: "We received a call at about 5.30am this morning that there was a
fire and persons were reported.
"It was a middle-aged couple and their son. "The fire was confined to
the door and the door frame.
"Three appliances from Exeter attended and an hydraulic platform
for additional manpower."
Report by Exeter Express & Echo
27/09/2001
Muslim man is robbed in 'racist' attack
A
Muslim told police he was the victim of a racist attack after he was robbed
in Weymouth in the early hours of Friday. The attacker approached the local man in Hope Square at 2am
and stole his mobile phone, leaving him with minor injuries and suffering from
shock. A Dorset Police
spokesman said: "The
victim said he thought he had been attacked because he is a Muslim. We are keen
to talk to any witnesses."
The attacker is described as a bald white man, aged about 20 and of
skinny build. He was not wearing a shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call Weymouth
Police Station on 01305 220512.
Report
by The Western Gazette 27/09/2001
A
gang of children as young as seven subjected a terrified Chippenham child to
racist taunts just days after the terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington. Police say the young
victim was targeted purely because of colour by the gang, which ranged in age
from seven to around 12.
The
attack happened in the Charter Road area earlier this week, as a wave of
anti-Islamic incidents were reported across the country. Schools have been put on
alert and given advice on how to deal with racist attacks. Inspector Ian Johnson, of Chippenham
police, branded the attack as horrifying.
He said: "It is dreadful from anyone of any age, but if children as
young as seven are doing it, you have to question the responsibility of their
parents." A number of
children have been spoken to by police in connection with the attack, and
investigations are continuing. The
attack was reported to police by the child's parents. Police spokesman Steve Coxhead said many people would
be horrified by the age of the children involved in the incident. He said: "This young child was a victim of
crime. It is absolutely unfair, unjustified, and absolutely illegal." He said officers across the force
were on the alert for increased racist incidents. He said: "The police are concerned about any racial
incidents, but obviously that concern is heightened in light of what happened
in New York. "We are
aware this is a time of possible increased racial tension, and even more effort
is being put in by our officers.
Advice has gone to all schools from Wiltshire's chief education officer
Bob Wolfson.
A
letter from the Swindon-based Islamic Awareness and Education Project has also
been sent to schools. Project director
Imran Golding said: "Islam is a religion of peace and Muslims do not
support violent actions.
"Please help your pupils and students to talk about the media
images they are seeing, and discussions they are hearing, so they will not be
afraid of, or angry with, innocent Muslims in their school and community. "We welcome any acknowledgement
that you can offer the Islamic Awareness and Education Project that the ongoing
teachings of Islam in your school will stand clear of the barbaric actions of a
few individuals." John
Cairns, deputy head of Hardenhuish School, said: "We do have a small
number of black Caribbean, Asian and Chinese children, and we will be looking
out for any trouble." Anyone
with any information about the attack is asked to contact PC Andy Pullen at
Chippenham Police on (01249) 654455 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 28/09/2001
UNITED
The
Echo today put up a £1,000 reward to catch those responsible for an arson
attack on the home of a city family. Police investigating the blaze believe it was racially
motivated and the victims fear they have been targeted because of the terrorist
atrocities in the United States. The fire at the family's home in Mount Pleasant could
have proved fatal, said police. They today welcomed the Echo's assistance in
trying to track down the culprits.
Mr and Mrs Singh who
asked for their full names not to be revealed and their five-year-old son were
sleeping upstairs when the front door of their home was set alight at 5.30am
yesterday. They woke and were able
to get out and raise the alarm. The fire wrecked the front door of the house
and caused smoke damage. Police
say they are keeping an open mind about the motive for the incident, but they
believe it was racially motivated.
The family is convinced
the attack was some kind of misguided reprisal following the New York and
Washington tragedies. Members of the family have already been verbally
abused in the days since the September 11 disaster. They cannot understand why they have
become hate targets. The Singh family are of Indian descent and have lived
in Exeter all of their lives. And, they are Sikhs. "Obviously at a time like this we realise that many
residents in Exeter will be concerned because of this sort of attack,"
said PC Roy Adams, of Heavitree Road police station. "We are delighted
that the Echo is assisting in securing the arrest and conviction of the
offender and in the protection of ethnic groups within the city." "This attack could have
resulted in the deaths of totally innocent people. We want anyone with
information no matter how insignificant they think it is to come forward."
Police
admit there has been a slight rise in the number of racially motivated incidents
in the city in the wake of the terrorist attacks. However,
most incidents have involved verbal abuse. Mr Singh said he and his family have suffered such
abuse three or four times a week since the attacks in America and are now
frightened of going out. Yesterday's incident had left them terrified. "If we had not woken when we
did, we could have been killed." He said he the family were very grateful to the Echo
for putting up the reward: "We appreciate it and are encouraged by the
support."
Echo editor Steve Hall
said he hoped the offer of the reward would encourage those with information to
come forward. "This attack
was reprehensible. It could have resulted in the deaths of these people one of
them a young child. Those responsible must be caught." Anyone with an information should ring
08705 777444. The reward will be paid out if in the opinion of the police the
information supplied results in the apprehension and conviction of the offenders.
Report by Exeter Express & Echo
28/09/2001
Police used CS spray following 'racist abuse'
incident
A teenager who tried to attack a man who had racially abused
him has admitted a charge of affray.
The 17-year-old from Bath, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was
sprayed with CS gas by a police officer after trying to confront the man who
had chased him with a knife while hurling racial abuse.
On
July 25 the youth and his father had entered the man's home and tried to force
their way past police officers who had been taking a statement about the
earlier incident, Pauline Stock, prosecuting, told Bath Youth Court yesterday. While his father struggled with one
officer, the youngster grappled with the other who was forced to use his CS
spray when the youth tried to take his baton. Both were taken to Bath police station and the youngster
later admitted a charge of affray. The boy's father also pleaded guilty to
affray. Mrs Stock said it
was accepted the man they tried to attack had been "running through the
streets with a knife, threatening the defendant with racist abuse".
Harriet
Heard, defending, said the youth and his father had gone to the house intending
to tell the police what happened.
After waiting outside for ten minutes they ran out of patience. Magistrates handed down a
ten-hour reparation order, working in the community, to be completed within
three months.
Report
by Bath Chronicle 28/09/2001
School advice to counter tension of
terror attacks
The
National Union of Teachers is advising its members to be prepared for increased
tension between pupils from different ethnic and religious groups following the
terrorist attacks in America. Minority
ethnic teachers may also be particularly vulnerable, both from some pupils and
parents, says the union. It has
also advised of further problems arising following any military action which
may be taken in the coming days and weeks. Advice from the union on dealing with these issues will
arrive in schools throughout England and Wales in the coming days.
Andy Woolley, the Exeter-based regional secretary of the
NUT South West, said: "Pupils and teachers, particularly those from
minority ethnic groups, must be protected from the abuse and threats which can
arise out of ignorance and prejudice. The best way to deal with such problems
is to bring them out in the open, to discuss them and ensure that all involved
understand that racism is not acceptable. The Prime
Minister has made it clear that the campaign is against terrorism, not
Islam. "Pupils and teachers
must be able to carry on their normal lives free from fear. Each member of our
community has the right to be treated with respect and to have the freedom to
carry on their normal lives without any apprehension for their own safety and
well-being because of their membership of a particular minority ethnic grouping
or religion. "It is
particularly important in an area like the South West, where ethnic minority
populations are generally smaller and more isolated than in some bigger cities,
that support is given to pupils and their parents who feel under threat. We
have already seen some racist incidents which appear to be linked to the events
in America and, although these have not occurred in schools, they show the
dangers some of our pupils face."
The union says that the
greatest threat comes from negative and stereotyped views of Islam and Muslims.
Teachers should be especially vigilant for signs of name calling, abuse and
bullying, particularly of Muslim pupils, and any signs of tension between
pupils from different ethnic groups.
Early recognition and intervention by teachers will help diffuse the
situation before it escalates. The
union emphasises that no attempt should be made to take a politically partisan
approach or one which belittles a particular set of opinions. A balanced
approach to any discussion will allow all pupils to participate and
benefit. It is vitally important
that schools enable pupils to understand that fundamentalism, fanaticism and
terrorism can, and do, exist within all religions, and the differences between
those concepts.
Schools should reiterate
to teachers, pupils and parents, their rejection of racial harassment and
procedures for tackling it. Any
racist or religious taunting should be firmly and sensitively dealt with by
teachers immediately. Some
pupils may need individual counselling particularly the targets and the
perpetrators of racial harassment.
The union says it is vital that every child feels valued and secure and
that school is a safe place to explore. Above all, prejudice should be countered and replaced
with information, and respect should be fostered throughout the school.
Report by Exeter Express & Echo
02/10/2001
An
Asian man lost his eye following a vicious beating from a gang of men outside a
Bournemouth off-licence. The brutal
attack on the 29-year-old happened near the Liquor Store in Old Christchurch
Road just before 10pm on Sunday. It followed an argument between the man and a
band of young men in a nearby nightclub. DI Wes Trickey of Bournemouth CID said: "It appears
that he was followed from the club and the row continued in the street, where
he was set upon by the group."
The victim, who is from Hampshire, was punched and kicked in the
street,
and his attackers ran off when police were called. He was taken to Bournemouth hospital suffering from cuts,
bruises and a severely damaged eye.
Doctors
carried out an operation in an attempt to repair the eye, but the injuries were
too extensive. The incident is not
thought to be racially motivated.
Detectives believe several people must have witnessed the attack or the
argument inside the club. Call
Bournemouth CID on 01202 552099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800
555111. A man was later arrested
and released on police bail in connection with the incident.
Report
by The Dorset Echo 02/10/2001
STAMP
OUT ABUSE, TEACHERS ARE TOLD
Teachers
in Bristol are being warned to be on the look out for racist abuse against
Muslim children and staff following the terrorist plane attacks in America. Richard Riddell, the city's director of
education, has sent a letter to head teachers alerting them to the potential
problem, and providing advice on how they should discuss the terrorism with
their pupils. He wrote: "There
have been reports from some schools in the South West region of incidents of
racist abuse and attacks on Muslim children, and possibly staff and parents, as
a result of the tragedy. "I must
stress that whilst I am not aware of any such incidents in Bristol, I thought
it wise to alert you to the possibility and ask for increased vigilance on your
part and that of your staff."
A
similar warning has been made by the National Union of Teachers, which says
that the risk of racially and religiously motivated abuse may be higher in
the South West than in other parts of the country. NUT South West regional secretary
Andy Woolley said: "Pupils and teachers, particularly those from minority
ethnic groups, must be protected from the abuse and threats which can arise out
of ignorance and prejudice. "It is particularly important in an area like
the South West where ethnic minority populations are generally smaller and more
isolated than in some bigger cities, that support is given to pupils and their
parents who feel under threat."
Mr
Woolley said that teachers should be vigilant for signs of name calling, abuse
and bullying-- particularly of Muslim pupils - and any signs of tension between
pupils from different ethnic groups.
He said: "Early recognition and intervention will help diffuse the
situation before it escalates.
"It is vitally important that schools enable pupils to understand
that fundamentalism, fanaticism and terrorism can and do exist within all
religions, and the differences between these concepts. "Above all, prejudice should be
countered and replaced with information, and respect should be fostered
throughout the school."
With his letter to heads, Mr Riddell enclosed an advice sheet
produced at Purdue University, Indiana in America. It was originally developed
following the shootings at Columbine High School. When the talking gets tough Don't assume that the kids don't
know about it. Children are exposed to the events as soon as they can watch TV
or interact with others who are consumers of the news. Be available and
"askable". Let kids know that it is okay to talk about the unpleasant
events. Share your feelings. Tell young people if you feel afraid, angry or
frustrated. It can help them to know that others also are upset by the
events. Help children use creative
outlets like art and music to express their feelings. Children may not be
comfortable or skilled with words, especially in relation to difficult
situations. Reassure young people
and help them feel safe. It
is important to let them know they are not at risk if they are not. Look for feelings beyond fear. Children
may also feel sad or angry. But be careful not to encourage the kind of
response given by one child: "I don't care if there's a war as long as it
doesn't affect me and my family." Help children and youth find a course of action. Children may want to write a
letter to someone about their feelings, get involved in an organisation
committed to preventing events like the one they are dealing with, or send
money to help victims or interventionists. Taken from "Talking with Children, When the Talking
Gets Tough", developed by Purdue University, Indiana, US.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 02/10/2001
Couple attack curry house waiter
A
woman attacked a waiter at an Indian restaurant and issued a volley of racist
abuse while her partner kicked in the window after they were refused a table. Gordon Clark, aged 28, and Nicola
Higgins, 25, of Coronation Avenue in Keynsham, have admitted joint charges of
common assault. They appeared
before magistrates in Bath following the incident outside the Masala Indian
Restaurant in Keynsham High Street.
Higgins
also pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and Clark to a charge of
criminal damage. The couple, who
have children aged six and six months, confronted the waiter just before 12am
at the restaurant in May this year.
Clark had been barred from the restaurant a year before for unruly
behaviour.
When they were turned away, the court heard, Higgins shouted racist insults at
a waiter. She then hit him in the face and
Clark became aggressive. The
victim went inside and asked a colleague to call the police. When he emerged he
found Clark repeatedly kicking a small pane of glass in the restaurant shop
front. Clark swung a punch at the
victim but missed. He then ran for another attack at the waiter, who lashed out
and caused a cut to his head which needed nine stitches. David Harris, defending, told the
court: "This young couple regret the incident." The case was adjourned and the couple
will be sentenced on Monday.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post
04/10/2001
Ref reports racist fan
Torquay
United are appealing for witnesses who may be able to give key evidence about
an incident of alleged racist abuse at the end of Friday's night's 2-1 win over
Southend United at Plainmoor. United say
that match referee Phil Prosser's report will include an allegation of
racist abuse directed towards a Southend player. "Apparently, it was only one
person who is supposed to have done the abuse, and we are examining CCTV tapes
to see if we can identify him," said United chairman Mike Bateson. "We are determined to find out who
was responsible."
Nothing had happened
during the match to prompt any animosity towards Southend players. But Bateson revealed: "One
supporter has e-mailed me and says he heard someone abusing the referee, but
that's all we've got so far.
"Supporters are held in a pocket near the tunnel area, while the
players and officials leave the pitch at the end of a match, so I'm sure other
people may have heard something.
"I am asking for anyone who can help us to do so."
Report
by Torquay Herald Express 08/10/2001
Pledge over Muslim attacks
Euro
MP Graham Watson was due to have talks in Brussels today to curb racist attacks
on Muslims in the South West. He was discussing the problem with
Beate Winkler, director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia. It comes after a
number of reports of violence and abuse against Muslims since the terrorist attacks
on New York and Washington. Mr Watson said: "Islam is a peaceful religion and we
must find ways to stop this backlash against innocent people. "It is imperative that we explore
ways to deal with this problem as a matter of urgency."
Report by Torquay Herald Express
09/10/2001
Police
patrols at Mosques and Muslim owned businesses in Wiltshire have been stepped
up following an increase in the number of racist incidents. Police checks on takeaways and
newsagents owned or run by Muslims in north and west Wiltshire have been
increased, as have patrols at local mosques. Muslim groups in Trowbridge also claim that children as
young as 13 are being terrorised at school and are being called Afghans and
terrorists.
The
police response follows a "notable increase" in the number of
racial incidents in the past few weeks.
Police have not confirmed whether or not the increase in verbal and
physical assaults is solely due to the terrorist outrages in America last
month. However, religious groups
across Wiltshire have already issued warnings about the likelihood of retribution
attacks on the Islamic community as a result of the atrocities in the US.
A
list of vulnerable businesses and places of worship has been drawn up in towns
including Melksham, Chippenham, Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge, with increased patrols
targeting the most likely areas of potential trouble. Wiltshire police spokesman Steve Coxhead said it was
important not to escalate the problem but Muslims needed to be protected from
"unacceptable" racial abuse.
He said most of the incidents related to verbal abuse and name calling,
although no details of specific incidents have been released. "The police are taking a high
profile response and are in close liaison with a number of representative
groups within the policing area.
"High profile patrols will be taking place in likely vulnerable
areas, " he said.
A
spokesman for Young Muslims Trowbridge said she had heard reports from Muslim
and Moroccan children about racial abuse spilling into the classrooms. She said: "We are concerned about
the youngsters who are facing Islamaphobia and racism in their classes. "One girl was being called an
Afghan and others have been called terrorists. It is children in their early
teens who are facing problems and it is making it horrible for them to go to
school. "Women are also
bearing the brunt of the abuse as they wear scarves and their religion can be
recognised. We are really concerned and are calling for politicians to
condemn this kind of behaviour."
Different
agencies across Wiltshire have come together to provide support to victims of
hate crime and plan to closely monitor the situation. The police, community safety partnerships, the race council
and Victim Support are all involved.
People are urged to report any racially-motivated incidents immediately
to their local police station, or one of the other agencies which they feel
comfortable approaching.
Alternatively, third-party reporting forms, launched earlier this year,
are available in most public buildings.
Victims or witnesses of race incidents can fill out the form,
anonymously if they wish, and send it to a freepost address provided. Incidents of racial abuse or harassment
should be reported to divisional diversity officer Pc Adrian Burt on 01249
449704.
Report
by Bath Chronicle 10/10/2001
Racist attacks condemned
Serious
attacks have been made on black and minority people in Bristol since the
September 11 USA suicide hijackings.
And a "considerable number" - particularly women and children
- have suffered verbal abuse.
The threats were revealed by City Council deputy leader Cllr Diane
Bunyan on Tuesday. "We
absolutely condemn that behaviour and will support the communities that are suffering
in any way we can, " she said.
Councillors
from all political parties joined together to express sympathy for those
affected by the terrorist attacks on the US last month - and to condemn the
subsequent racist attacks in the city.
"The city is strong in its good community relations and will
continue to hold out its hand in firendship to all the communities, which it
knows are horrified by the appalling loss of life that terrorism has caused,
" a motion agreed at Tuesday's full Council meeting said. "In particular, this council
condemns attacks perpetrated on members of the minority ethnic communities
whenever and wherever they occur.
"We reaffirm our resolve to work to keep together all Bristol
communities, opposing all those who seek to divide us, so that we can all live
together in security, safety and decency, and to work for every member of the
community."
Cllr
Barbara Janke (Lib Dem) and Cllr Peter Abraham (Con) spoke of the need for
racial harmony. "My heart
goes out to all those people who are suffering because of these actions,
wherever they are, " said Cllr Abraham. "I would support anything we can do to get harmony in
our city - not just for today but for tomorrow and for the future."
Report
by Bristol Observer 12/10/2001
Racist attacks on increase
Police
are stepping up patrols in areas of north and west Wiltshire after a
"noticeable" increase in reports of racial incidents against local
Muslims following the September 11 terrorist attacks in America. Vulnerable areas are being targeted for
the increased patrols to reassure the area's Muslim community.
Police
spokesman Steve Coxhead said the Wiltshire force was also working closely with
a variety of local groups and urged victims or witnesses to racial incidents to
report them directly to the police or by using the recently-launched
Action on Hate Crime forms available in most public buildings. The police declined to reveal how
many incidents have been reported, but admitted the increase since September 11
had been "noticeable". Mr
Coxhead added: "The attacks have been largely verbal, but these are still
very distressing for the victims.
"All the people who made these reports have been seen and we do
take these incidents seriously."
The
people carrying out the attacks have been branded cowards by Wiltshire Racial
Equality Council. Mayur Bhatt,
race equality officer with the organisation, said: "It is obvious that
some people are using this incident to retaliate against innocent
black/minority ethnic people in Wiltshire and such cowardly action must be
condemned and should not be tolerated."
A
spokesman for the Young Muslims Trowbridge group also condemned the recent rise
in incidents. "In the
light of the recent attacks in the US, Muslims and Arabs in Trowbridge have
been the targets of abuse. Although acts of terrorism are in direct violation
of Islamic teachings, bigots and racists have exploited the tragedy in the US
to pursue their own agenda. "We
are very concerned about this and condemn the perpetrators. "Even in local schools in
Trowbridge, Moroccan and Muslim youngsters have been subjected to Islamophobic
and racist abuse." In one
known attack, just days after the September 11 outrage, one Chippenham
youngster was subjected to racist chants by a gang of children as young as
seven.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 12/10/2001
Police
were last night hunting a gang of 15 white thugs who tried to attack a
terrified Asian woman as she sat in her car.
Officers say they believe the incident was racially motivated and are
linking it to the U.S. terrorist attacks.
The woman, who was wearing a Muslim headscarf, was in a traffic queue at
the railway crossing in Derby Road, Gloucester when the youths aged 13 and 14
shouted insults and tried to get into the car.
Report
by Western Daily Press 12/10/2001
A Frome man has
appeared before magistrates charged with a racially aggravated assault at the
Charcoal Grill takeaway. The incident
happened on September 21 when police arrested Daniel Alden, aged 19, of
Coronation Road. He has been
charged with violent disorder and assaulting Nurettim Akoglu. Magistrates were told police
investigations were continuing and others were being interviewed. The case was
adjourned until November 1.
Alden was released on conditional bail not to contact the witnesses or
to go within 100 metres of the Charcoal Grill unless he has a prearranged appointment
with his solicitor whose offices are opposite the takeaway.
Report
by The Standard & Guardian 18/10/2001
Racist
hoaxers have been condemned after sending an elderly couple a letter telling
them they had been selected to house a homeless Asian family of five. Douglas and Dorothy King of Linkhay
Orchard, South Chard, were horrified to read the official-looking letter
purporting to be from The Homeless Asians Association.
It
read: "Due to the number of Asians in the Birmingham area, we have
arranged with Somerset County Council to allocate Asian families coming into
the country to council and private houses in your area to alleviate the
crisis. "The local council
office in your area has informed us that you have adequate space to accommodate
such a family in your home. We will therefore allocate a Ghandi family of five
to stay with you."
Mrs
King, aged 71, said the letter, which was post-marked Crewe, could have been
sent to vulnerable people living on their own. "I was very angry. We have two elderly and disabled
people living near here and if they get a letter like that they could be very
upset for an elderly man or woman,
this could bring on a heart attack, " she said. "Who knows what effect this could have on vulnerable
people? What if somebody died as a result of reading it?"
The
letter - signed A. Patel - goes on to say that the couple must hire a
minibus to pick up the family, including a grandmother, father, pregnant
mother, two children and the family pet from Birmingham Airport and will be
required to provide clothes and buy rice and curry powder. When the couple realised it was a hoax they
called the police. They were transferred to Chard Police Station but were
told it was not a police matter.
Mrs King said: "I was put through to Chard and the woman there
just laughed. She said no crime had been committed and suggested it was sent by
a member of our family. It is a very offensive letter, not the type of letter
anyone we know would send."
Somerset Racial Equality Council director Nick Carter said the letter
was probably part of a wider campaign which had been heightened since the
terrorist attacks in America.
He
said the police were taking hoax letters very seriously and was disappointed
with the reaction from Chard Police Station.
"People need to call the police and treat the letters as evidence.
I would advise people who receive a letter like this to put it to one side and
try not to touch it. They are an incitement to racial hatred, " he said. "There has been a considerable rise
in racist incidents in Somerset and it appears that the Asian community are
being par ticularly targeted. Someone is tr ying to make racist capital out of
what has happened, which is despicable.
"People who receive these letters are the victims of crime. There is an on-going
investigation being carried out by police in west Somerset." Chard county councillor Jill Shor
tland was also disappointed with the police reaction. She said it was part of a campaign by racists to incite
tension in the wake of world events.
She received a racist letter shortly after the terrorist attacks in
America, which she forwarded to the police. "Unfortunately, this is par t of what is going on to tr
y to incite people into racism and I find it despicable." A police spokesman said: "We
treat all incidents of a racial nature seriously. We will look into the
matter."
Report
by The Western Gazette 25/10/2001
Drunk man ran amok in curry house kitchen
Drunken Nigel Smith
ran amok in the kitchen of an Indian restaurant after a quarrel with members of
staff. He overturned a serving
unit, which toppled onto a cooker and cracked the top, hurled crockery around
and then swept a cooking pot off a hob, covering himself and the floor with
curry sauce. Smith then ran out of
the restaurant, got into a car and was driven away at speed, magistrates at Yeovil
were told. Smith, aged 31,
of Montrose Road, Yeovil, admitted he damaged kitchen fitments, fittings, and
destroyed foodstuffs at the Viceroy, Middle Street, Yeovil, on 30 September and
behaved in a threatening and abusive manner to staff. He will be sentenced on Tuesday 13 November, after probation
reports have been prepared. He was
remanded on bail on condition he does not go to the Viceroy and makes no
attempt to contact prosecution witnesses.
Tony Scofield, prosecuting, told the court Smith had been eating a
takeaway in a car parked near the restaurant when one of his friends had a row
with some of the staff. Smith got
involved and ended up chasing two of the staff down an alleyway at the side of
the restaurant and into the kitchen.
Mr Scofield stressed that Smith had not used racist language during the
incident.
Paul
Walters, defending, said Smith now realised how stupid he had been to get
involved in what he now acknowledged had been "a silly incident" and
wanted to apologise to everyone concerned for his behaviour. It had been nearly a year to the day
since the death of his partner from cancer and he had lost his job the previous
day. He had gone out with friends to "share his sorrows" and had drunk
too much.
Report
by The Western Gazette 25/10/2001
Remanded on bail after racial
hostility conviction
Two
Plymouth men have been convicted of racial hostility towards a Pakistani petrol
station attendant. But at
Exeter Crown Court 33-year-old Christopher Adams and 39 year old William
Mitchell were cleared of racially aggravated intentional harassment causing
alarm and distress. It had been
alleged that the two men had gone into the Esso garage in Alphington Road,
Exeter and had insulted Shahid Bukhuri with racial taunts.
The prosecution claimed that the two men had hurled abuse
at Mr Bukhari in the late night incident and one of them had thrown
a sandwich, hitting Mr Bukhari with it.
One of the men had allegedly called the attendant a racist name and Mr
Bukhair said he was frightened and extremely alarmed. Prosecutor Nick Bradley said there were two parts to
the charge and the jury had to be satisfied first that they had by their
behaviour caused Mr Bukhari harassment, alarm or distress. Secondly at the time
of doing so they displayed hostility because of his membership of an Asian
group.
Both men denied they had
been racially abusive towards Mr Bukhari and denied that they had been menacing
or threatening towards him.
Adams, of Old Laira Road, and Williams, of Britannia Place, Prince Rock,
pleaded not guilty to the charge but were convicted on the hostility aspect. Both were remanded on bail for the preparation of
pre-sentence reports.
Report by Plymouth Evening Herald 12/11/2001
A
teenager has been sentenced to three months in a young offenders'
institution for racist attacks on a Chippenham church. Paulo Filippo Falcone, 18, of St Margaret's
Gardens, Chippenham, admitted painting swastikas on the door of the New
Testament Pentecostal Church in Lowden, whose congregation is mainly black. He had also defaced nearby garages and
had gone into the church and called out a racist remark to elderly members
of the congregation.
Rhys
Davies, prosecuting, told Chippenham Magistrates Court yesterday that Falcone had
damaged the building with the intention of offending the black community. "He knew when calling out that
this would cause offence and fear within the community and admitted to police
he was racist and did not like black people and he agreed with certain Nazi
ideas. "He failed to recognise the
seriousness of the offences he committed." Falcone admitted criminal damage, racially aggravated
criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment, and being drunk and
disorderly.
Defending,
Michael Jeary said: "No one is quite as silly or stupid as him to do this
– at the end of the day we have to ask him what he understands about
fascism and he doesn't know; he only knows what he doesn't like." Mr Jeary
explained that his client was from a 'normal' family which was horrified by his
recent actions. They attribute the
change in his behaviour to an incident earlier this year when he was attacked
and hit on the head. "He is
now accepting that this may be wrong and it may be the wrong way to
behave. "This is clearly
someone who would not benefit from a prison term – he would be at risk of
being hammered again and he would be at risk of being with people with views he
thinks he has got." He added:
"A constructive proposition should come from this court and he should pay
for the damage he caused." The prosecution requested £600
compensation for the damage and £228 in costs.
But
magistrates said the offences were so serious, custody was the only way to deal
with them. They told Falcone that elderly and
vulnerable victims were attacked deliberately and that such racist behaviour
was not acceptable in a civilised society.
In
a separate case, a young Chippenham man has admitted drunkenly defacing the
same church. Christopher Roe, 18,
of Deansway, admitted throwing white paint over the door of the church in the
early hours of Saturday, October 20.
In defence, Mr Jeary said Roe had argued with his father and girlfriend
during the preceding evening and was very drunk. He had discovered an open can of paint when stopping outside
the church to go to the toilet and had lashed out in a moment which was
completely out of character about which he felt terribly ashamed. Roe, who admitted criminal damage, was
ordered to pay £609.67 in compensation and costs.
Report
by Bath Chronicle 13/11/2001
Neo Nazi is jailed for vendetta on church
Racist
teenager Paolo Falcone will be spending Christmas in prison after magistrates
decided there was no excuse for his behaviour in a civilised society. Falcone, 18, pleaded guilty to two
racially aggravated attacks on Chippenham's New Testament Pentecostal Church at
an earlier court appearance in Chippenham.
On
the first occasion at the end of September, Falcone daubed a swastika on the
church wall with red spray paint and ripped a religious poster from the wall. He also painted similar symbols on some
garages near the Lowden church, signing them with his initials and his
girlfriend Amanda's name. A week
later he was seen by some elderly black members of the congregation, acting
drunkenly and shouting racist abuse outside the church while a prayer meeting
was going on.
Rhys
Davies, prosecuting, said it was well known the church was predominantly used
by members of Chippenham's black community.
He said on the day in question, an elderly black couple heard Falcone
repeatedly shouting the word "nigger". Mr Davies said Falcone, who was
with his girlfriend, was heard shouting: "Let's get those niggers." The couple followed Falcone back
to his home in St Margaret's Close, from a safe distance and later informed
police where he lived.
"The defendant was later interviewed about this catalogue of
offences and admitted he had committed them because he was drunk. "He said he had damaged
the building with the intention of offending the black community, and said when
he was shouting the word nigger he knew this would cause offence and fear," said Mr Davis.
Falcone
was also charged with two counts of being drunk and disorderly. At the time of
the second offence, he was on bail for the attacks on the church. "He said he was a racist who
didn't like black people and that he agreed with Nazi ideas," said Mr Davies. Falcone's solicitor Michael Jeary said
Falcone came from a very normal family, and his mother thought he had changed
since an assault where he was badly hit around the head. "His mother says it was at this
point that he changed and started to have an interest in Right Wing issues and
the skinhead culture. "His
views are so Right Wing and Fascist you wouldn't believe them, but he doesn't
understand what he says." He
said Falcone went to a neurologist last week, who told him not to be involved
in any contact sports because of the injury he had sustained. The court heard he had a
previous conviction for a racially motivated offence. Falcone was sentenced to three months for the first attack,
a further three months for the second, and one month for the damage to the garages.
The sentences will run concurrently.
He was not ordered to pay any compensation because of his custodial
sentence and was given no separate penalty for the public order offences. Magistrates however, decided their only
option was to send Falcone to a young offender's institution because of the
seriousness of the offences.
Report
by Swindon Evening Advertiser 13/11/2001
A
woman has been charged with criminal damage at a restaurant after she was
filmed by a pub's security cameras.
The attack happened two days after the terrorist attacks in the US at
the Rajpoot Tandoori Indian Restaurant in Half Moon Street, Sherborne.
Police
were called after the woman left the restaurant and allegedly picked up a
litter bin and threw it through a window.
Customers inside the restaurant were showered by the glass but no-one
was injured. Insp Nick Budden of
Sherborne police said the incident was not racially motivated but had arisen
out of a dispute between the woman and restaurant staff. PC Dominic Pratt said: "The
footage from the CCTV at one of the pubs in Sherborne allowed us to identify
people in the area at that time.
"We were able to identify those walking down Church Path at around
the time the incident took place and from the description given at the time we
were able to further our inquiries."
A Sherborne woman has appeared at Dorchester Magistrates' Court charged
with criminal damage and has been bailed to appear at a later date
Report
by The Western Gazette 15/11/2001
Arson attackers hunted
Exeter
Police
were today investigating a second arson attack in a city
centre street. A small blaze was started in
an outside toilet at the rear of the Blue Moon kebab shop in Sidwell Street at
2.30pm yesterday afternoon. Police
are unsure whether they are dealing with a racially-motivated incident. And they do not know whether the fire is linked to a blaze
at the nearby Methodist church on Friday night.
Rehearsing choir members had to be evacuated from the church
after a piano was set alight in a practice room. Much of the interior of the church was left blackened from
smoke. The piano was destroyed.
The fire at the church was discovered at around 8.15pm on Friday. Church spokesman Bob Price said:
"The choir were in the building at the time, and obviously it could have
been very serious. "We don't
know why anyone who would want to target us. We will carry on as
normal." Mr Price said services
went ahead as normal yesterday after the church was cleaned up by volunteers.
Station officer Mark
Wilkins, of Exeter Fire Station, said: "The church fire was started
deliberately. It appears someone put something into the piano and set fire to
it. "The whole of the church
buildings from top to bottom were affected by smoke." Detective Sergeant Paul Burgan, of
Exeter CID, said detectives were "keeping an open mind" over whether
the two fires are linked. On
the kebab shop incident, he said: "It appears to be a deliberately caused
fire underneath business premises and near to residential flats. "Although the fire was minor in nature, it could have
been a lot more serious."
Police are asking anyone with information to call them on 08705 777444, or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Report by Exeter Express & Echo
19/11/2001
Discharge for causing fracas at restaurant
Nigel
Smith went on a drunken rampage in the kitchen of a restaurant after a row
between his friend and staff.
Shouting and swearing, he overturned a serving unit and smashed crockery
before sweeping a large cooking pot off a hob, covering himself and the floor
in curry sauce. When police went to
Smith's home to interview him later his clothes were still stained with the
liquid, Yeovil magistrates heard last week. Smith, aged 31, of Montrose Road, Yeovil, appeared for sentencing
after admitting at a previous hearing to damaging fittings and fitments,
destroying foodstuffs and threatening and abusing staff at the Viceroy
Tandoori Restaurant in Middle Street, Yeovil, on Sunday 30 September. He was discharged on condition he gets
into no further trouble in the next six months and was ordered to pay
£100 compensation to the owner of the restaurant and £50 costs.
Tony
Scofield, prosecuting, said a row started between a friend of Smith's and some
of the restaurant staff. Smith -
who had been sitting in a car - got involved and ended up chasing two of the
staff down an alleyway at the side of the restaurant and into the kitchen. Mr Scofield said there was no
suggestion that Smith's behaviour had been racially motivated. Jeffrey Bannister, defending, said
Smith had got out of the car to try and defuse the situation but realised that
his presence had only made things worse.
He accepted that he had over-reacted, possibly because he thought one of
the restaurant staff was wielding a knife. The incident happened when Smith was "feeling low"
at the end of a "tragic" year. He was still grieving after his
partner had died of cancer. Smith had a number of family problems and had
recently lost his job.
Report by The Western Gazette 22/11/2001
A
30 year old man accused of racially aggravated public order offences has had the case against
him adjourned for a second time.
Reginald Cooper of Meadow Road, Yeovil, is alleged to have threatened
and abused staff at the Yeovil Kebab House in Lower Middle Street on two occasions in
September. He is also charged with having an offensive weapon, a lock knife,
at the takeaway on 14 September and with two counts of jumping bail. South Somerset magistrates agreed on
Tuesday to defer the case until Tuesday 4 December to allow Cooper's solicitor
to take further instructions. They
bailed Cooper on condition he does not go to the kebab house, has no contact of
any sort with prosecution witnesses and stays at his current address
Report by The Western Gazette 22/11/2001
Police are
investigating an arson attack on a car, believed to have been carried out by
racists.
The father of a family originally
from Pakistan, who live in Palmerston Street, Bedminster, saw two white men
damaging his Mitsubishi Galant.
He shouted at them and one pointed an air rifle at him. The men then set
the car on fire. An Avon and
Somerset police spokeswoman said it was being investigated as a racist
incident.
Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 23/11/2001
Police
are investigating an arson attack on a car, believed to have been carried out
by racists. A family originally
from Pakistan heard noises outside their home in Palmerston Street,
Bedminster. The father looked out
of a window and saw two people damaging his Mitsubishi Galant. He shouted at them but one of the
men pointed an air rifle at him. The two men then smashed the windows of the
Galant and set it on fire. Avon and
Somerset police spokeswoman Jenny Bigwood said it was being investigated as a
racist incident and appealed for help in catching the culprits. Both men were white. One was 5ft 6ins and slim, with a
shaved head. Anyone with
information about the attack should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 23/11/2001
A
Weston-Super-Mare teenager who became the youngest person in the country to
be put under an Anti-Social Behaviour Order has now been placed under a three-year
supervision order by the resort's magistrates. The 14-year-old admitted two counts of racially
aggravated public disorder, using threatening words and behaviour and breaking the
terms of the ASBO imposed in January last year which effectively bans him from
the town centre. He received the
ASBO because of his unruly behaviour. A similar order was placed on his older
brother.
The
court heard how in the latest incidents the boy, who cannot be named for legal
reasons, hurled abuse at an Indian waiter. The man was later confronted by
the boy on the Bournville Estate when he again shouted abuse and threatened him
with a screwdriver. Five days
later, the boy used threatening and abusive words at another man in Locking
Road car park after drinking lager and vodka.
Magistrates
imposed the supervision order, which will be monitored by the youth offending
team, in addition to the ASBO. They also imposed a curfew from 8pm to 6am from
Friday to Sunday for three months.
He was also ordered to take part in 24 hours reparation with his
victims. The boy's parents were ordered to attend weekly counselling sessions
for three months. The boy's
solicitor, David Bird, told the court: "He is not a thoroughly bad
lot. "There are some very
positive aspects to his nature. With these proposals I think we could turn the
corner with him."
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 27/11/2001
Monument marred by vandal’s
slogan
Police
and community leaders today condemned a vandal who defaced a monument in South
East Cornwall. A two word
racial slogan was found sprayed in grey paint on the chimney stack at Kit Hill,
near Callington, which stands on an ancient monument. The same slogan in the same grey paint was later discovered
on a road sign to Luckett, 400 metres away.
Police believe the same
person was responsible for both incidents, which they are not linking with
damage to a road sign in Stoke Climsland.
Cornwall County Council has looked after the hill since Prince Charles
gave it to the people of Cornwall to celebrate the birth of his son
William. The towering chimney,
once used to draw fresh air into a labyrinth of mineshafts below, stands on a
scheduled ancient monument cared for by English Heritage. But unlike the regular defacing of the
English rose symbol on brown signs in Cornwall, in which the ‘English'
symbol is often replaced with the black-and-white Cornish St Piran's flag, this
graffiti is not being linked with Cornish nationalism.
Report by Plymouth Evening Herald
29/11/2001
A black prisoner was
beaten during a racial attack by three white guards in a cell at a Bristol court, a
jury heard. Garfield Dawkins, aged
25, was assaulted, held down on the ground and called a "black
bastard" after he demanded to speak to a solicitor, Winchester Crown court
was told. Mr Dawkins said he
feared for his life as the trio laid into him in a cell below Bristol
Magistrates court.
Desk
officer Robert Smith, 38, landing officer Mark Stephens, 28, both from Bristol,
and cell officer Kevin Parker, 40, from Gwent, deny racially aggravated
assault.
All
three worked for Reliance Custodial Ltd at the time of the alleged incident on February 8. Their addresses cannot be revealed for
legal reasons. The court heard that
minutes before the attack, Mr Dawkins had been given bail by JPs at Bristol
Magistrates Court when he appeared on a charge of breaching bail.
Believing
he was to be let go, Mr Dawkins was taken to the cell area to fill out
paperwork. But once there he was
told he was being held to be deported back to his native Jamaica. Mr Dawkins said he asked to speak to a
solicitor but his request was refused.
He said: "They locked me in my cell. I was trying to get somebody's
attention to call my solicitor. I rang the buzzer and I started to bang on the
door." Mr Dawkins said Smith,
Stephens and Parker then went to the cell and he was called a "prick"
and a "black bastard".
He said: "One of the men came and grabbed me by my shirt. He was
just grabbing me and they started hitting me." When police arrived to deal with Mr
Dawkins' deportation, he made a complaint. Derwin Hope, prosecuting, said when arrested, the men denied
assaulting Mr Dawkins. The trial
continues.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 30/11/2001
A custody officer told
a jury she watched in horror as her colleagues beat up a black prisoner in a
cell at a Bristol court. Susan
Roberts, aged 49, said Robert Smith had seen the "red mist" and
kicked Garfield Dawkins as many as eight times. She said another colleague, Kevin Parker, kicked the
prisoner, two or three times in a vicious assault at Bristol Magistrates'
Court. Desk officer Smith, 38,
landing officer Mark Stephens, 28, both from Bristol, and cell officer Parker,
40, from Gwent, deny racially aggravated assault.
All
three worked for Reliance Custodial Ltd at the time of the incident on February
8. Their addresses cannot be
revealed for legal reasons. Mrs
Roberts said Mr Dawkins had been pushed into a cell after thinking he was free
to leave on bail. JPs at the court
had, minutes earlier, told him he was free but officers held him because he
needed to be questioned about being deported. Mrs Roberts said: "Mr Dawkins was totally confused as
to why he was being put back into his cell. "Bob lost the plot - the red mist had come down. He was
very aggressive towards the prisoner. Bob got both his hands and was kicking
him. "Kevin kicked as
well." The trial at
Winchester Crown Court continues on Monday.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 01/12/2001
A
prisoner who claims he was beaten up in a racially motivated attack was
properly restrained after becoming violent and abusive, a court heard. Senior custody officer Darren Scribben
told Winchester Crown Court yesterday that three officers accused of assaulting
Garfield Dawkins, aged 25, at Bristol Magistrates Court had acted "in a
controlled way." Mr Scribben
was in charge of the custody officers when Mr Dawkins, who is black, says he
was assaulted and racially abused in the cells.
Desk
officer Robert Smith, 38, landing officer Mark Stephens, 28, and cell officer
Kevin Parker, 40, who are all white, deny racially aggravated assault. Mr Scribben told the court he heard
banging and shouting coming from one of the cells. On his orders a number of officers had been sent down to
remove Mr Dawkins's trainers. Mr
Scribben said: "Parker, Smith and Stephens were restraining him. They grabbed his body and
vigorously turned it, but in a controlled way."
A
second custody officer, Gary Basley, told the court: "It was a difficult
situation, but I didn't see anyone kick Mr Dawkins at any stage." But custody guard Anthony Atkinson,
who witnessed the incident, told the jury: "I heard a cry come from
Smith. I looked in from the corridor
and saw him kick Dawkins once or twice." Custody officer Susan Roberts, aged 49, said she had
originally lied about the "beating up" of Mr Dawkins because she
feared repercussions from colleagues.
Mrs Roberts said she saw two colleagues kicking Mr Dawkins in his
cell. All three of the accused worked for
Reliance Custodial Ltd at the time of alleged assault on February 8. Their
addresses cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 04/12/2001
Guards cleared of ‘race attack’ in
cell
Three
prison custody officers have spoken of their relief after charges of
assaulting a black prisoner were thrown out of court. The three men had been accused of
racially aggravated assault on prisoner Garfield Dawkins, aged 25, in a cell at
Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
The five-day trial collapsed yesterday after prosecution witnesses
told the court “contradictory and conflicting” accounts of what
happened. Kevin Parker, 40, Mark Stephens, 28 and
Robert Smith, 38, were released from the dock after the judge ordered the jury
to return verdicts of not guilty.
Mr Parker said: “It has been hell for all three of us. I was so
happy when I heard what the judge said.
My head was down in the dock in my hands and at the time I was crying
with relief. I don’t mind
admitting that. “We had been
told that we could have been looking at three to five years. It is nice to have
gone up there and been proved innocent before it went to the jury.” Mr Dawkins told the court the
incident happened in a different cell to the one he had told police about in
his statement.
Judge
Patrick Hooton said there was no clear evidence about who was in the cell at
the time and other witnesses said the defendants had not shouted any
abuse. Judge Hooton told the jury
at Winchester Crown Court: “It sometimes happens that the evidence is
so contradictory and witness statements conflict so much that a guilty verdict
cannot be returned. Dawkins never identified
any of the defendants. Another
witness said everything was done, as far as it could have been, in the proper
manner.”
Mr
Dawkins alleged that he was kicked, beaten, held on the ground and called a
‘black bastard’ after he demanded to contact a lawyer. He had been given bail by JPs at
Bristol Magistrates Court on February 8 when he appeared on a breach of bail
charge. Believing he was to be let
go, Mr Dawkins was taken to the cells to fill out paperwork but told he was not
free and was to be deported back to Jamaica. The court was told he was kicking the cell door and custody
officers went to remove his shoes whereupon he became violent and had to be
restrained.
Report
by Bristol Evening Post 06/12/2001
National Civil Rights Movement (South West)
Email: ncrmsouthwest@aol.com & info@ncrm.org.uk
Tel: 07940 514270 (NCRM South
West Mobile) - 0208 574 0818 (NCRM National Office)
Website: www.ncrm.org.uk
Racist
Violence and Policing Issues Helpline:
FREEPHONE 0800 374 618