Police recategorise incident outside Ilford Exchange Shopping Centre as racial crime
General view of Ilford town centre. Picture: Paul Bennett - Credit: Archant
A alleged racist incident outside the Exchange Shopping Centre last month which went viral, was not correctly flagged as a racial crime by police.
On Monday, July 24, witnesses reported that a man launched into a racist tirade after allegedly kicking a beggar, in High Road, at around 5.30pm.
A large crowd formed and pictures of the scene were shared on social media, incorrectly labelling it as an acid attack.
The Recorder tried to confirm details with police, however no hate crime incidents were found logged.
It can now be revealed it was initially incorrectly marked as an “altercation”, without the flag for a racial incident.
Det Insp Robin Peel, of the East Area Command Unit, said: “We apologise to anyone who has been concerned about our response to this.
“We have reinstated the flag, and have assigned safeguarding detectives, who are currently in the process of identifying and speaking to witnesses.”
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