Community leaders condemn alleged hate crime in Carlisle
Video footage showed a black schoolboy being attacked
Last updated 20th Mar 2024
Community leaders have condemned an apparent incident where a black schoolboy was attacked in Carlisle.
Video of the attack was shared widely on social media last week.
Four teenage boys were arrested in connection with what happened, and have since been bailed.
A joint statement has been issued by Cumberland Council, Cumbria Police, Anti Racism Cumbria and Multi-Cultural Cumbria as well as the school which the victim attends.
Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council says:
“I was extremely shocked and sickened to hear of the very serious incident involving a young person in our city and welcome the quick action from the Police.
“The pupil and his family at the centre of this are being supported by the Police as well as officers from our Children and Family Wellbeing team.
“Our schools and communities should be inclusive and welcoming environments for all and there is absolutely no place in our society for such horrific and hateful acts.
"I am committed to addressing systemic racism and making Cumberland a fairer and safe place to live.
“We will work tirelessly to address the root causes of such hateful behaviour and ensure that our school is a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background.
Temporary Superintendent Gill Cherry from Cumbria Police said:
“We continue to reassure the community that we take this incident extremely seriously. We understand an incident like this can be concerning for many and has caused shock to anyone viewing the images circulating online.
"Additional patrols have been deployed in the area and we will continue to engage with key community stakeholders as our investigation continues.”
The school says it's 'fully investigating' and taking the 'appropriate action' to ensure necessary support is provided and that this 'never happens again'.
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