Racism victim, 12, abused '˜over skin colour'

A YOUNG girl racially abused was targeted because of the colour of her skin, police have said.

The 12-year-old black girl was near Landport Adventure Playground when she was verbally abused then physically attacked.

Police arrested four people after the incident on Friday at 4.50pm.

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Councillor Yahiya Chowdhury, member for Charles Dickens ward at Portsmouth City Council, said it was a serious incident.

He said: ‘It’s very serious because it has affected people.

‘I don’t want this to happen in my ward. We need the police to take action.

‘If it happens and there’s no serious action it can happen again.’

The group of people who abused the girl were white.

A police spokesman said: ‘She was assaulted by up to four youths, both male and female.

‘While they punched and hit her they shouted racial abuse.

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‘The girl received medical treatment after the attack but was not badly injured however she was left shocked and traumatised by what happened.’

The city council, which runs the playground, has said it happened near the site but not inside.

The city’s communities co-ordinator Rob Neale moved to reassure people it was safe.

He said: ‘We’ve been made aware that an incident took place nearby to our Adventure Playground site in Landport.

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‘We’d like to clarify that this incident did not take place in the Landport Adventure Playground site, but on a grass hump in the local area.

‘The safety and happiness of all children and families who visit the site is our upmost priority, and we have a zero-tolerance policy to racism and bullying.

‘We’d like to assure families that their children are safe and well looked after when they visit our adventure playground sites, and that they have no cause to worry when bringing their children to enjoy our facilities.’

Anyone with information should call the Eastern Investigation Team at Fratton Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two 16-year-old boys, one 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault.

They have been bailed until October 3 while police investigate.