Er - so what race was the woman , white ?!!? black !?!? asian !?!? and what colour were the offenders ?!?

What a very good point! Political correctness has now reached such unbelievable and ludicrous depths that the WO decides not to report the essential facts - or, more likely, the police wouldn't tell them - in case it upsets somebody. So how do the police expect to solve the crime if they or the press won't even reveal the colour of the victim and her attackers? Utter madness!

I'm surprised you felt it necessary to report the colour of the car as being black. My sympathies towards this lady though, what a horrible thing to happen to you.

excellent , that's more like it w.o ! After all we'd hate to think that by omitting the victims colour originally that you were insinuating it was only possible for white people to be racist ...

why wait almost a week to put story online ?! a bit early for trick or treat! hope the old girl is recovering well...

Doesn't it say that 'a black woman was walking down...' and the main offender had a mask on? Seems like WO did write what was necessary to show that this was a racial incident and not being as overboard, 'politically correct' as you all think...

newbie wrote:
Doesn't it say that 'a black woman was walking down...' and the main offender had a mask on? Seems like WO did write what was necessary to show that this was a racial incident and not being as overboard, 'politically correct' as you all think...

The current story has been changed from the original version - simple as that. This is how news on websites can now be manipulated.

I am bound to say that I find this manipulation of the news quite frightening. I am quite certain that the original version of this story made no mention of the race and colour of the victim or her attackers, otherwise I would not have posted the message I did. However, it has now been sub-edited and deliberately altered, so that later readers of the story think that the latest version is the original. It is not!
The first version on the website did not mention that the victim was black. That fact has only been added since the comments of one or two of us were made.
It makes you question whether you can believe anything at all any more.

Although it may have been difficult to determine the attacker's race or physical characteristics due to his mask, couldn't they have told us anything about his accent, seeing as the victim heard him speak (well, shout)? I imagine that would at least go some way towards identifying him.

As others have already said, what on earth is the point in appealing for witnesses or information if vital facts are not made known?

The only thing anyone would really have to go on now would be the numberplate of the car, however you would assume that had there been anybody quick and community-spirited enough to have made a note of it at the time, they would have taken it to the police already.

PineLodgeDweller wrote:
Although it may have been difficult to determine the attacker's race or physical characteristics due to his mask, couldn't they have told us anything about his accent, seeing as the victim heard him speak (well, shout)? I imagine that would at least go some way towards identifying him. As others have already said, what on earth is the point in appealing for witnesses or information if vital facts are not made known? The only thing anyone would really have to go on now would be the numberplate of the car, however you would assume that had there been anybody quick and community-spirited enough to have made a note of it at the time, they would have taken it to the police already.

I entirely agree. Neither the police nor the WO can expect much help from the public if they cannot be bothered to release the full details in the first place.
If the victim was black or Asian and the attackers were white, then we are entitled to know, and vice versa. Otherwise, how can they expect anyone to help them, based on such spurious information?

Why are people so concerned about the race aspect. You are being asked to say if saw anything .... that all. If you need to know if the persons were asian, then you are being meaningless.

Eric Gillingham wrote:
Why are people so concerned about the race aspect. You are being asked to say if saw anything .... that all. If you need to know if the persons were asian, then you are being meaningless.

What an absurd comment! Of course the skin colour of criminals attacking someone is relevant if the police want witnesses to come forward. Has barmy political correctness now totally overwhelmed Australia as well?

Eric Gillingham wrote:
Why are people so concerned about the race aspect. You are being asked to say if saw anything .... that all. If you need to know if the persons were asian, then you are being meaningless.

I never said I was concerned about the race aspect, although the fact that racially motivated attacks like this are taking place obviously concerns and appalls me.

What I did say was that I was concerned that vital facts, such as characteristics that could identify the attacker, had not been made known, which seems odd when you are appealing to witnesses for information.

For example, the attacker's accent could well have identified which part of the UK he comes from, which could narrow things down and eliminate other suspects from the enquiry. Equally, if the attacker was not of British origin, this identification would be useful to the police for exactly the same reasons.

Sorry to disappoint you, Eric, but there's certainly no hidden racist agenda here and I can't quite understand where this paranoia's come from.