Shopper's shock at racial abuse in Tesco supermarket (From Worcester News)
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Shopper's shock at racial abuse in Tesco supermarket
4:00pm Tuesday 20th November 2012 in News
By Richard Vernalls, @rvernallsWN #worcsnews
FOOTAGE: The CCTV of a shopper who was said to have racially abused a man in a Tesco store in Worcester.
THIS is the man police want to speak to after a shopper was racially abused in a Tesco supermarket in Worcester.
The victim, who lives with his family in the Warndon Villages area of Worcester, was subjected to a verbal assault while shopping with his 12-week old daughter.
It happened in the middle of afternoon on a Sunday in the Warndon Villages store.
The victim, who has declined to be named, said he was initially shocked and then angry after a comment was made about how he looked.
The man, who is of Chinese descent but was born and grew up in Worcester, said the incident happened as he passed a man with an older woman in one of the aisles.
“As I carried on walking past he just made this racially abusive comment, and gave me this look,” he said. “I was in shock so I just carried on walking, I never said anything.
“But as I carried on round the store, I was just boiling with anger.
“It was so uncalled for – I had just been minding my own business. I decided to go and find them and have a word.”
He spotted the pair near one of the check-outs, and approached the woman, telling her the man should be ashamed of himself.
But rather than apologise, the man repeated the offensive comment.
“Then, the woman with him actually said to me, ‘Maybe he just doesn’t like you’,” said the victim.
“I had to go over and say something to them because it was totally out of order, and if I say nothing then they will never know.
“I’m not confrontational and I don’t know their circumstances, but I felt I had to shame them, and get them to explain his actions to me.”
He said he had also been racially abused once on a night out in Worcester. The victim later reported the incident, which happened between 3.30pm and 4pm on Sunday, October 21, to police.
West Mercia Police is treating it as a racially aggravated attack.
PC Matthew Harris said: “He (the victim) and I both feel that the comments made were unprovoked and offensive, and I would like to trace the man responsible.”
If you recognise the man, call PC Harris on 101 quoting reference 599/S/221012 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments(15)
purplenicnoc
says...
4:19pm Tue 20 Nov 12
MJI
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4:24pm Tue 20 Nov 12
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leemo79
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4:40pm Tue 20 Nov 12
140354
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5:08pm Tue 20 Nov 12
lowlybarnacle
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7:14pm Tue 20 Nov 12
Surely Tesco could help the police track this guy down by using CCTV to see what time he went through the checkouts and then cross checking with credit/debit card or even clubcard details?
Keith B
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10:26pm Tue 20 Nov 12
MJI wrote:I've done a study on this in a neigbouring County some 5 years ago. I found that the Chinese community are one of the the most racially abused sectors, but they also report the least - with a view that keeping their heads down is better than making a song and dance. The irony is that the abusers were often of ethnic background themselves - from travellers to people of colour.
I am surprised at this, the Chinese people in Worcester seem to be quite popular.
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MJI
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9:21am Wed 21 Nov 12
Keith B wrote:Never understood the hate towards the Chinese.
MJI wrote:I've done a study on this in a neigbouring County some 5 years ago. I found that the Chinese community are one of the the most racially abused sectors, but they also report the least - with a view that keeping their heads down is better than making a song and dance. The irony is that the abusers were often of ethnic background themselves - from travellers to people of colour.
I am surprised at this, the Chinese people in Worcester seem to be quite popular.
.
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OK only met them in takeways & restaurants, but always courtious.
.
I think I have mainly met the Tsangs.
Omicron
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12:00pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Just a little side issue to this. I once worked in an office where the boss's secretary was Chinese. When I once asked her to describe someone who had been into the office looking for me she retorted " How do you expect me to describe him, all you English people look the b***** same to me". Even now it puts a smile on my face every time I think about it. Mind you she had a fantastic sense of humour.
ideas4all
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3:24am Thu 22 Nov 12
cnutcjh
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1:59pm Thu 22 Nov 12
ideas4all wrote:I expect he gets his shell-suits and Strongbow from there
What's happened to the CCTV in the car park or do Tescos not want to lose his custom
cnutcjh
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2:10pm Thu 22 Nov 12
Omicron wrote:Why should the report state what words were used? Do you think it right that more offense should be caused in this way?
I am always intrigued on reports such as this that the WN never actually states what words were used in the racial abuse. I'm sure we would all have a greater understanding if we knew exactly what was said.
Just a little side issue to this. I once worked in an office where the boss's secretary was Chinese. When I once asked her to describe someone who had been into the office looking for me she retorted " How do you expect me to describe him, all you English people look the b***** same to me". Even now it puts a smile on my face every time I think about it. Mind you she had a fantastic sense of humour.
You seem to be suggesting that: -
1 - maybe the words used weren't particularly offensive.
2 - Chinese people are more, or at least as racist as other people.
Glad it brings a smile to your face.
Keith B
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2:33pm Thu 22 Nov 12
She was, I suspect, from a Balkan or Middle Eastern country and had no command of English. What makes a person travel to the UK in order to make the grand career move of selling Big Issue - therefore presumuably being homeless too. Wouldn't "home" be a better place to be?
As it was the Supermarket staff soon moved her on but the connection to the lead story is of course, begging in the door of a supermarket does raise the hackles of all but the most liberal minded person and could lead rise to making a comment that might be perceived as racist but is in fact simply an expression of frustration that so many people come to the UK without any means of support.
pronstar
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5:49pm Thu 22 Nov 12
Keith B wrote:Not sure what you're getting at. The victim of racial abuse in this story was not begging or blocking the entrance, he was merely going about his business shopping.
Interesting to find a Big Issue seller blocking the door of my local supermarket this morning.
She was, I suspect, from a Balkan or Middle Eastern country and had no command of English. What makes a person travel to the UK in order to make the grand career move of selling Big Issue - therefore presumuably being homeless too. Wouldn't "home" be a better place to be?
As it was the Supermarket staff soon moved her on but the connection to the lead story is of course, begging in the door of a supermarket does raise the hackles of all but the most liberal minded person and could lead rise to making a comment that might be perceived as racist but is in fact simply an expression of frustration that so many people come to the UK without any means of support.
My only advice to him would be to shop somewhere that attracts a better class of customer.
honeyfc
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6:59pm Thu 22 Nov 12
pronstar wrote:The victim is entitled to shop wherever he wants.
Keith B wrote:Not sure what you're getting at. The victim of racial abuse in this story was not begging or blocking the entrance, he was merely going about his business shopping.
Interesting to find a Big Issue seller blocking the door of my local supermarket this morning.
She was, I suspect, from a Balkan or Middle Eastern country and had no command of English. What makes a person travel to the UK in order to make the grand career move of selling Big Issue - therefore presumuably being homeless too. Wouldn't "home" be a better place to be?
As it was the Supermarket staff soon moved her on but the connection to the lead story is of course, begging in the door of a supermarket does raise the hackles of all but the most liberal minded person and could lead rise to making a comment that might be perceived as racist but is in fact simply an expression of frustration that so many people come to the UK without any means of support.
My only advice to him would be to shop somewhere that attracts a better class of customer.
Further, xenophobia has nothing to do with 'class'. Are you suggesting that Waitrose customers would be blind to one's physical appearance or family background??
pronstar says...
4:10pm Tue 20 Nov 12
My sympathies to the victim and I hope the police are able to catch this brainless moron.