Did You Witness Racial Abuse On A Wimbledon Train?


Police ask witnesses to come forward

Police are asking anyone who witnessed a woman being racially abused by another passenger on a Waterloo to Wimbledon to come forward with information.

Investigators from British Transport Police want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, which took place shortly after 7pm on Monday, 13 January on board the 7.06pm London Waterloo to Hampton Court train.

PC Neil Allison, leading the investigation, said: "While the train was travelling between Waterloo and Wimbledon, a man boarded the train and pushed a woman's handbag onto ground.

"He then began swearing at her and made racial insults towards her. She then moved to another carriage to escape the verbal abuse while he stayed in the sixth carriage of the eight-carriage train."

The suspect is described as a white man in his early to mid 20s, and was wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms.

Officers are currently following a number of enquiries, including looking at CCTV opportunities from on board the train and at the station.

PC Allison added: "There were several people on the train at the time of the incident and we believe there will be a number of people who witnessed what took place.

"If you were on board the service at the time, we urge you to come forward as you may have information crucial to our investigation.

"We take all reports of racist behaviour very seriously, and will not tolerate abuse of any kind on the rail network."

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background reference LSA/B6 of 17/01/2014. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

January 17, 2014