POLICE have made a number of arrests following a spate of racially motivated assaults in Redditch.

Six youths were arrested and charged with five offences relating to public disorder and assault in the town centre.

One has been remanded in custody, a second has been remanded into the care of the local authority and the remaining four have been released on conditional bail, one of the conditions being not to enter Redditch Borough.

A youth was arrested and charged with two racially aggravated public order offences, one in the town and one in Matchborough.

Two men were arrested in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Church Hill on November 5. One has been bailed pending charge.

A man was reported for racially aggravated public order offences in the town centre.

A youth was charged with racially aggravated criminal damage on a vehicle in Batchley on November 12.

Police said there had been no racially motivated assaults in the town in the last week.

And town agencies and community leaders have now joined forces to tackle the issues surrounding the clashes between gangs of white and Asian youths. Redditch Community Safety Partnership is concerned by the attacks on young people and the problems the small number of youths involved are causing for the wider community.

Parviaz Khawaja, of the Pakistan Community Forum, said: "There have been a lot of positive initiatives behind the scenes to build trust between the police and local committees and we would not want recent difficulties to overshadow the progress that has already been made.

"In view of the frustrations of the Asian community, if anyone, in particular young people, would rather report incidents to us, they are welcome to do so."

Redditch Council community safety officer Tariq Khan said the agencies and community groups were committed to working together to keep the town a safe place to live.

He said: ''Anyone who feels they have been intimidated in any way should report this to the police or other community agencies such as the Redditch Anti-Harassment Partnership, neighbourhood offices, Redditch Victim Support, Worcestershire Racial Equality Council and Redditch Community Relations Council."

l Redditch police have apologised for a press statement in last week's Advertiser describing an attack on a man as ''unprovoked'' before a full inquiry had been completed.

Chief Insp Dave Willetts said: "Mistakes have been made and lessons learned.

''Any acts of violence, harassment or intimidation reported to us are being dealt with swiftly and appropriately and those committing these acts should understand they will be dealt with by positive police action.''