Appeal for witnesses and information after racially aggravated assault in Southsea

Officers investigating a racially aggravated assault in Southsea are appealing for witnesses and information.

We received a report that at around 8:00pm on Sunday 21 September, a man in his 30s was approached by a group of 5 or 6 men he did not know at Canoe Lake in Southsea.

The men have been described as white and carrying flags.

Members of the group verbally racially abused the man before he was punched in the head, knocking him to the ground.

The man suffered minor injuries from the assault and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

An unknown woman reportedly spoke to the group and they left the area shortly after.

An investigation has been launched and officers having been carrying out enquiries to establish the full circumstances, but would like to speak to anyone with relevant information.

Did you witness this incident? Do you have any CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area around the time of this incident?

Anyone with information which could assist our investigation is asked to please report this to us by calling 101 and quoting reference number 44250428088, or go online to report at How to tell us about an existing case or report | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting their website, below;

Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers