Two queer women violently assaulted by gang of 10 teenage boys in ‘unprovoked’ homophobic hate crime
The two women were attacked near an adventure playground in Farnham Park. (Farnham Town Council)
Two women were subjected to a “vile, horrible, disgusting” homophobic attack by 10 teenage boys in Farnham, Surrey, “solely because of their sexuality”.
According to Surrey Police, the homophobic attack took place near an adventure playground in Farnham Park, at around 8.30pm on Sunday (July 12).
Police said the two women were assaulted and verbally abused by “a group of about 10 individuals, all male and aged between 11 to 14 years old” who were “of South Asian ethnicity”.
Authorities are treating the attack as a hate crime, and are appealing for witnesses.
PC Mike Millward, of the Waverley neighbourhood policing team, said in a statement on Friday, July 17: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on two women in a public place simply because of their sexuality.
“We will not tolerate this type of crime in Surrey, and would ask that anyone who was in the area and saw something, to come forward.”
Pride in Surrey founder condemns homophobic attack.
Stephen Ireland, the founder and co-chair of Pride in Surrey, wrote on Twitter: “Hearing about the awful attack on members of our community solely because of their sexuality, I am fuming!
“To the victims, I am sorry, sorry that this group of 10 or so youths attacked you… I will say it as it is and I really couldn’t care what anyone thinks right now, but [my] message to those who attacked you: YOU ARE VILE, HORRIBLE, DISGUSTING individuals and when you are caught I hope that you are punished by law and also learn of the hurt you have caused!”
The Surrey Heath LibDems responded to Ireland on Twitter, and said: “Sending our full support to the victims of this senseless attack and the wider LGBTQ community.”
Pride in Surrey’s safeguarding officer Vicky Cole added: “We fear for our safety every day and this demonstrates why we have that fear.”
Last year, data showed that homophobic and transphobic hate crimes had more than doubled in England and Wales between 2014 and 2018.
Almost half of the hate crimes committed on trans people were violent, with 46 per cent being offences like assault and grievous bodily harm. For homophobic hate crimes, 40 per cent were violent in 2018.
