'Hate crime' probe launched as three assaulted in Hurst Street pub ahead of Birmingham Pride

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Three men aged 30, 31 and 34 are believed to have been assaulted in Birmingham city centre

Police have arrested a man following an assault in Hurst Street yesterday evening (Friday, May 24).

At around 6pm, West Midlands Police received 999 calls to say that a disorder was happening in a pub near to the Arcadian.

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When officers arrived they were told that a man had assaulted several people inside the pub and had left the scene. Police searched Birmingham city centre and, at around 7pm, arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of wounding and assault. The force said they are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Three men aged 30, 31 and 34 are believed to have been assaulted and their injuries are not believed to be serious or life threatening. The assault comes just hours before Birmingham Pride got underway this weekend (Saturday, May 25).

Hurst Street, Birmingham (Google Street View image)Hurst Street, Birmingham (Google Street View image)
Hurst Street, Birmingham (Google Street View image) | Google Maps

West Midlands Police statement

Chief Inspector Richard Evans, from Birmingham police, said: " We will not tolerate hate crime in our city.

"Birmingham Pride is one of the largest Pride events in the country and is now in its 27th year and people should be able to visit the city without fear of being subjected to violence and threats.

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"Planning for Pride takes place months in advance and the operation involves firearms teams, traffic officers, drones teams, sniffer dogs, neighbourhood officers and volunteer officers known as special constables. The focus is to provide a highly visible presence around the Pride site, to make people feel safe and to prevent crime.

"We take hate crime very seriously and would encourage people to come forward if they've experienced a hate crime. While we’d prefer victims to come to us directly, we know that for a variety of reasons, some people do not want to speak with officers preferring to report crimes anonymously or not at all.

"The Loft in Birmingham has become a hate crime reporting centre for the region’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.

"At The Loft, anybody reporting hate crime can do so discreetly, in a safe environment. Guided by trained members of staff, victims of hate crime will now have a dedicated point of contact and be able to provide valuable feedback, both through reporting and observations. 

"This hub is part of a wider piece of work to stamp out hate crime, whilst increasing trust between the community and the police."

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