RACE

by SAMANTHA MANNION

RACIAL crime in Oldham has hit record levels, with a massive increase in violent attacks on lone white men.

Chief Supt Eric Hewitt, head of Oldham police division, said that he is extremely concerned about the increase of racist attacks by gangs of Pakistani and Bangladeshi youths on white men.

Mr Hewitt said: "During the past 12 months, 572 racial incidents have been investigated by police - which is a record level. Out of these attacks, 60 per cent of the victims were white."

His comments come days after 23-year-old Mark Clayton lost between four and five pints of blood after an unprovoked, racist attack by a gang of Asian thugs.

Mark, who lives with his parents, in Werneth, was punched and kicked before being stabbed twice in the leg, severing a main artery, as he walked through the underpass at Manchester Street, on Saturday evening.

Mr Hewitt today revealed a worrying trend in the number of similar attacks, especially during the past two months.

He said: "I am concerned about the level of violence, which has increased dramatically in recent months. Most of these attacks are violent and unprovoked, while some are active robberies.

"There is no doubt that there are serious consequences, such as death, when people are going out carrying knives and bricks, which are then used to attack people.

"While these gangs are hitting victims over the head with bricks or stabbing them, there is a serious risk that someone will be killed and this cannot be overstated."

Mr Hewitt said the increase in attacks had been particularly marked in Chadderton and Westwood, where gangs of between five and 20 Asian youths have targeted victims.

He added: "The common theme in most of these attacks is that the assailants are Pakistani and Bangladeshi and the victims are white."

And to combat this growing trend, police are now increasing the number of uniformed patrols in the target areas, as well as carrying out additional investigations using the Racial Incident Unit and the CID.

Mr Hewitt said: "We will identify the people responsible for the attack on Mr Clayton and bring them to justice. Their behaviour will not be tolerated"

Residents living near the scene of Saturday’s attack say they now fear for their lives. And they are pleading with the police and Oldham Council to do something about the attacks, before someone is killed.

Mrs Mary Turner, of Crossbank House Tenants’ Association, said that many people were terrified to leave their homes following a spate of robberies and violent crime in the area.

She said: "It seems that a week doesn’t go by without someone being intimidated or mugged. Most of the time it seems to be racially motivated, with gangs of Asian youths shouting abuse at us and telling us we shouldn’t be in the area."

Mr Hewitt added: "We recognise the concerns of local people and we have put a bid in for CCTV cameras for that underpass.

"A decision is expected imminently and this will mean several cameras being placed in the area, covering the hot spots."

© Oldham Evening Chronicle 2000