A protest outside Thomas Knyvett College after the attack
(Picture: Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)An “immediate and significant” culture shift is needed to keep black children protected at school, Britain’s leading race equality think tank has said, after a suspected “racist” attack in Surrey.
The Runnymede Trust said the “horrific case” of alleged racially-aggravated assault at Thomas Knyvett College was “not an isolated incident”.
“Our children, particularly our Black children, are being failed by the state institutions which are supposed to be safeguarding and protecting them,” the organisation’s Partnerships and Programme Manager, Ellie Ikiebe told the Standard.
Social media footage showed a 15-year-old girl being hit by young people outside the school.
On Friday, Chief Inspector Dallas McDermott of Surrey Police described the incident as “disturbing” and said he is “disappointed” with the reaction of the public in the video.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of attempted racially aggravated grievous bodily harm, including a 39-year-old woman, 16-year-old girl and two 11-year-old girls.
The woman and a 43-year-old man were also arrested on suspicion of child neglect and intentionally encouraging and assisting the commission of an indictable-only offence. They’ve since been released under investigation.
Chief Inspector McDermott said officers were still working to bring a sixth suspect, a 15-year-old girl, into custody.
On Thursday, MPs demanded an investigation amid an online backlash over the response of staff during the incident.
Protests were also held outside the school earlier this week.
“It should not take a violent video circulating which documents such trauma for people to care and spring to action, we have known for some years the severity of what our young ethnic minority children are facing without adequate support or justice,” Ms Ikiebe suggested.
“Without proper intervention, students internalise the message that unprotected groups can be targeted and that those in positions of power will stand idly by.
“Indeed, that they themselves can be targeted and that those there to protect them will stand idly by.”
Following the incident, the school called for “calm and patience while vital work is undertaken to establish the facts” and that they are undertaking a thorough review into the matter.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr McDermott said any racially-motivated attack in the county receives a “high level of response”.
He said: “In this case, we’re doing that with vigour.
“We want to bring these offenders to justice. We’re trying to get those vital bits of evidence that we need to see charges, and I can say I believe we’re not far away.
“So we’re confident as a police force and as a local police team that we will bring justice for the victims.”
A Goverment spokesperson said: “Any violence, particularly involving young people, is abhorrent. As this is an ongoing police investigation it would be inappropriate for us to comment but we are in touch with the school and Trust on this very serious issue.”
