Members of the public could be eligible for a reward of up to £1,000 if they have information on an unprovoked attack on a man in front of his 13 year old son [8 September 2011]

The reward is available from the independent charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and charge of the individual(s) responsible for the incident. At approximately 1615 BST on Tuesday 16 August a 46 year old man was walking along Chelmsford Avenue in Southend.

He was walking in the direction of the mosque when he was assaulted by a young male, thought to be approximately 15 years old. He was part of a group of about 4 other young males. The man was left with cuts and bruises to his face.

Crimestoppers, which allows people to give information 100% anonymously on the free 24/7 number 0800 555 111 and via a secure online form, is urging members of the public to come forward with information to help catch those responsible.

Racially motivated

Ann Scott, Eastern Regional Manager for Crimestoppers said: “This is a nasty, unprovoked attack which the victim perceives to be racially motivated. It has left the victim and his son extremely shaken. Please come forward to the independent charity Crimestoppers so this awful crime can be solved. We do not ask for your name and no call is traced or recorded.

You won’t have to give a statement, speak to the police or go to court – we only want to know what you know, not who you are. In the 23 years that Crimestoppers has been running we have never broken our anonymity promise.”

She added “This attack has been carried out by a 15 year old. Did your son display unusual behaviour that day? Did he come home with torn clothes or cuts to his hand? Has someone confessed to being involved? Perhaps someone witnessed the event or saw suspicious activity in the area? Crimestoppers wants to receive any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem”.

Only information given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 that leads to an arrest and charge is eligible for the reward. Information can be given online at but information will not be eligible for a reward this way.

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For further information please contact Ann Scott, Eastern Regional Manager for Crimestoppers on 07825445720 or ann.scott@crimestoppers-uk.org

For questions about the police investigation please contact the Press and PR Officer Nicola Lawrence in Corporate Communication on 01707 354037.