POLICE have made two arrests following a report of a racially-aggravated hate crime involving a boy being assaulted in the Raffles area of Carlisle.

Officers received the report at 4.55pm yesterday (April 24). The report was of a racially aggravated assault in the area of Brookside. The reported incident involved a group of boys.

Following the initial incident, a second incident was reported to have occurred shortly after. The second incident took place in the Heysham Park area involving the same group of male youths and a man from Carlisle.   

A male, in his early teens, from Carlisle, was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated actual bodily harm and racially aggravated harassment with fear of violence.

A second male, also in his early teens, from Preston, was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated actual bodily harm.

Both remain in police custody.

The victim suffered minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment.

Officers are continuing to investigate, and a number of inquiries are ongoing.

The public will see an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance to the local community and officers will also be engaging with community stakeholders.

Anyone with information relating to, or witnesses to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 151 of 24 April 2024.

You can also phone on 101.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.