Racial Hate Crime Incident in Our Town

Thursday 25th August | Around 2pm

Location: County Oak, Crawley

A local mother, a respected member of our community, was driving through County Oak when a man in his 40s began angrily waving and shouting at her, believing she had “cut him off” in traffic.

Instead of letting it go, he chose to react with hate and show his true colours. 

He followed her car into the County Oak car park, circling several times as she tried to find a space. When she finally parked in a disabled bay, he pulled up behind her, jumped out and opened her car door as soon as it unlocked.

Then came the dreadful words no one should ever have to hear:

“Go back to your own country.”

“Who the **** gave you a licence?”

“Can you even speak English?”

“This is the problem with you people.”

He shouted, swore and leaned close to her face. She was sitting alone, terrified and confused. As she stuttered, two elderly women approached. For a moment, she thought they might help.

Instead, they joined in. They excused his behaviour and added racist comments of their own, saying things like:

“Don’t worry young lad, calm down, these people are like this, they come here and take everything that belongs to us.”

“You go and enjoy your day, don’t let the likes of these people ruin it, they’re not worth your breath.”

When the man finally drove off, smelling of alcohol, the women continued verbally abusing her. They demanded to see her blue disabled badge. When she refused, they pulled out their phones and threatened to report her, calling her a liar.

She came home shaken, crying and broken. Since that day, she has been too scared to go out alone.

This was not road rage. This was a hate crime, racially and verbally abusive, targeting her for who she is.

Despite being reported to the police, who never came out and instead scheduled a Zoom meeting for the following Saturday, the case was dropped due to a “lack of evidence and witnesses.” This is despite the fact that County Oak car park is covered by CCTV cameras and ANPR that could clearly identify the vehicles and the individuals involved.

How are members of our community meant to feel safe when hate crimes are dismissed like this? How can evidence be ignored so easily? Where is the empathy, the accountability, and the protection for victims of hate? Instead, it gives perpetrators confidence that they can get away with these actions.

No one should fear for their safety in their own town.

No one should be made to feel small because of the colour of their skin, their accent or their disability.

We demand that hate crimes are investigated properly, that victims are treated with empathy and respect, and that those responsible are held accountable.

Join me in signing this change petition calling for this case to be reopened and given the investigation it truly deserves.