17 HATE CASES IN REGION
HATEFUL criminals have used the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to hurl vile abuse at innocent strangers on Tyneside’s streets.
Northumbria Police has investigated a series of shocking hate crimes where the words ‘coronavirus’ or ‘Covid-19’ were used to abuse innocent victims.
Between January 1 and March 10 there were 17 such offences were recorded by the force.
In one incident an offender walked towards a victim in the street and said: “You are dirty people. Dirty eating bats. You deserve to get coronavirus.”
In another, a picture of a dead bat was posted in a review on a takeaway’s website.
Students at Newcastle University, who were raising money to help people in the Wuhan province of China where the virus originated, were also targeted.
Offenders walking through the campus blamed Chinese people for the pandemic and shouted: “You should be wearing a f ****** face mask.”
Today Northumbria Police has condemned the actions of this hate-filled minority and urged victims to come forward.
Chief Supt Janice Hutton said: “We have not seen a significant increase in reports of hate crime due to Covid-19 and it is great to see communities coming together to support one another during these unprecedented times.
“Having said that, when we do receive a report, we are committed to ensuring support is available for victims and doing all we can to bring those responsible to justice.
“Nobody should be targeted for who they are and we would encourage anyone who has been subjected to such abuse to come forward.”
Details of the 17 recorded crimes were revealed by Northumbria Police following a Freedom of Information Request.
Eleven happened in Newcastle, two in North Tyneside, two in Gateshead, one in Northumberland and one in Sunderland.
All the offenders who have been identified are English.
The victims, who are both male and female, are aged between 12 and 45.
In another incident an offender got into a taxi and made numerous racist and threatening comments towards the driver after finding out he was Iranian.
He called him a ‘terrorist’ and accused him of beheading people and spreading coronavirus.
Shockingly another crime happened at a school where an offender shouted ‘coronavirus’ at the victim and said: “I can roll you a joint to make your eyes more round.”
While one victim was personally blamed for the pandemic when an offender said to them: “You are the main cause of the coronavirus.
“All Chinese people eat bats and do you want to take this outside.”
Anyone who feels they have been a victim of a hate crime should contact Northumbria Police by calling 101 or via the force’s website using the online reporting form.