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Attack was racially motivated, say police
Date published: 24 February 2010
POLICE have declared that a vicious assault in Westwood was racially motivated.
The Chronicle revealed on Monday that four white teenagers were jumped by a group of seven Asian males, aged in their late teens, on Featherstall Road North last Wednesday.
The victims told the Chronicle they feared it was a racially-motivated attack. But the GMP press office twice told the Chronicle, including when checks were made on Monday morning, that they did not believe there was a racial element and had classed the crime as common assault.
This led to complaints that Oldham Police was refusing to abide by requirements in the classification of race attacks as the definition states: “A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.”
New Chief Superintendent Tim Forber then wrote to the Chronicle to say the incident was being treated as a hate crime - but not at the behest of the victim.
He wrote: “This incident is being treated as a hate crime, despite the fact that none of the victims made any representation to the police at the time that it had racial overtones, or that they perceived it as such.
“The decision was made by the police following a review the morning after the offence, on account of the fact that there had been two similar incidents in that area in the preceding days when racist language was used.
“All three incidents involved groups of Asian youths and white victims and the similarities were such that it was deemed the most appropriate course of action.”
The Hate Crime Unit is now investigating all three incidents and two men have been arrested in connection with the first two, with one charged with robbery. Extra patrols are continuing in the area.
Mr Forber added: “Racially motivated crime is wholly abhorrent in all its forms and Greater Manchester Police vigorously investigates all allegations of hate crime, irrespective of the ethnic heritage of the victim or offender.
“If a victim perceives that a crime was racially motivated then it will be treated as such by the police, irrespective of what was said at the time of the incident.”
The Westwood attack left Patrick O’Brien (18), from Coldhurst, needing hospital treatment after suffering cuts and bruises from being kicked and punched in the head and ribs. The other victims were left badly shaken.
Comments
“The decision was made by the police following a review the morning after the offence, on account of the fact that there had been two similar incidents in that area in the preceding days when racist language was used. Just goes to show that people on here can have an effect, this is a step forward now the police need to put a stop to this by catching these thugs and making the punishment fit the crime.
Finally, after pressure, racial assaults against white oldhamers may be recognised. Hiding these attacks lends itself to only inflame the racial tension within the borough. I hope the new Chief Superintendant acknowledges this.
Credit where credit is due.Well done to GMP for stating
what the vast majority of Oldhamers already knew.
The Westwodd area is fast becoming a dangerous area for 'outsider's'.Maybe some of the local elders need to get involved here in conjunction with the Police and sort it out.I don;t know why these attacks are happening but swift and long jail sentences should hopefully act as a deterrent
for other potential attackers.
Wow - that's been some time in coming hasn't it. TRUTH.
I'm afraid that Asian parents simply cannot believe or accept that their beloved offspring could be guilty of anything bad. Following the TV Generation Jihad, even when caught in possession of bombs, parents could not accept their children bore any guilt, neither could the community.
As long as they remain in total denial nothing is going to change.
Credit where credit is due.Well done to GMP for stating
what the vast majority of Oldhamers already knew.
The Westwodd area is fast becoming a dangerous area for 'outsider's'.Maybe some of the local elders need to get involved here in conjunction with the Police and sort it out.I don;t know why these attacks are happening but swift and long jail sentences should hopefully act as a deterrent
for other potential attackers.
This will open a can of worms - “A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.” Does this mean that the chronicle contributers who perceive any article involving Pakistanis and Bangladeshis as racist, will now have the Police Hate Crime Unit investigating? Will the contributors be investigated when targetting Fightback? 1984 has come true.
Everyone in Oldham but the police knew this.Only 2 incidents reported here not 3 . People's safety seems to come second to not wanting to upset the multicultural applecart these days
It's about time we got rid of the concept of a racist attack. Arguing about whether one has been or not only gives comfort to the bigot.
Any assault by any person on another is an affront and should be treated with equal seriousness. If someone punches me and breaks my nose I don't give a tinker's whether he's black, white or sky blue pink. I expect him to be dealt with.
What happened to Steven Lawrence was unacceptable but the consequences of the subsequent report have a lot to answer for.
When the police change their mind and in public maybe there is light at the end PC tunnel.
Hallelujah, now heavy fines and long jail sentences should be handed out to deter these racists , let them know it is totally unacceptable, it must be stopped before thing start to escalate.
Old Mancunian - I would hope that by the phrase "or any other person" the law means someone who was present at the time, but not involved; a witness or passer-by, for example. If it includes someone reading about it days after the event, then the Hate Crime Unit could be very very busy indeed. All assaults should treated equally seriously, whatever the motivation. It does seem to have taken GMP a long time, however, to realise that racism is not practised exclusively by whites.
of course it wasnt racist,ask fightback
"What happened to Steven Lawrence was unacceptable but the consequences of the subsequent report have a lot to answer for..."
What happend to Gavin Hopley in glodwick 2002 still needs an airing.
at last public opinion counts for something!
Whenever I see a reference to the unfortunate Stephen Lawrence I automatically conjure up the names of Gabriel Cornish and Timothy Baxter.
Yes WHO?????
Beaten up by none caucasians and thrown off a bridge into the Thames to drown in the 1990s only Gabriel Cornish survived.It was not concidered a race crime because it was done for 'fun'and things were stolen, or maybe it was because a white girl was with the gang
How is that that people remember Stephen Lawrence and not these two guys???
See what I mean?
Comfort to bigots
Bigot - 'A person obstinately or intolerably devoted to his or her own opinions and preducies'. Only one person on this thread considers anyone not agreeing with their point of view a bigot. Seems like shooting one in ones foot don't you think.
Keefy - When have I ever denied racism in Oldham? It exists and rears its ugly head every week in the Chronicle articles and comments pages.
Also who made the initial decision that it was not racially motivated (race or colour, take your pick) and who was blamed (race or colour) think about that!!
Old_Mancunian - Thanks, but dont worry about me. I have been the victim of racially motivated physical attacks, a few remarks are easy to deal with. The remarks say more about them than any " I am not racist, but..." could ever say.
Oldham has suffered much racism since the "riots". Just as some people believe 9/11 was an American plot,many people believe the "riots" were a tool to control the police & the council. Did it work? The trouble now is that racism is a money earneror vote winner for too many people & will only start to disappear when government funds start to dry up.
Have Your Say
And the truth shall set you free!!!!
We await their punishment of a slap on the wrists with baited breath.
By Mainstander @ 24/02/2010 12:48:05