A person of Asian origin in Ruislip recently faced a racist attack on the High Street. Sharing their ordeal with Asian Voice, the person (who wishes to remain anonymous) told the newsweekly that after a day out to Wiltshire visiting relatives, he pulled up in front of McDonald’s Ruislip High Street one evening around 8.15 PM to get a burger for his 11-year-old son.
“As we were slowing to park, all of a sudden our car was pelted with eggs by a group of young boys and girls (looked to be between 9 and 15) hanging outside the store. When the first bang came my wife thought I’d hit something and rolled down the window to check. A young boy (must’ve been 9!!) came closer and aimed another egg which flew through the passenger's side window and hit me and splattered on the window next to me,” the source told Asian Voice.
He added, “When I stepped out to confront the kids, they ran away - but then returned to threaten me, hurling racist abuse about “brown %#expletive€$” and old to “F#%¥ off to my country”. A girl then threw a drink at me whilst another kid threw eggs. And another one ran to throw full cans of drink at our car (denting it) and more eggs. All the while there were older teenagers, who appeared to know the kids and may have encouraged them, watching and enjoying the apparent entertainment!! I went back to my car to get my phone and went into Mcdonald's to call the Police when I was pelted with more drinks inside. When I tried to get a video of the kids they ran away, and an older teenager threatened me for trying to video his brother. He slapped my phone out of my hand. Thankfully the Police arrived within minutes, as my wife had locked herself in the car and called them in the meantime.”
According to the source, there were many people in McDonald’s, and store owners looking on from the other side of the street - but no one intervened. The kids were being egged on by the older teenagers who were enjoying the confrontation.
The two older boys were still around when the Police arrived. “After hearing my story and speaking with the two lads, they initially tried to tell me that if I insisted on pressing charges I would have to go to Court and it may not stand up. But eventually, the Police said that as the 2 lads were 16 they couldn’t be arrested, and hitting my hand and threats would not be enough for juvenile custody. However, they promised that a crime incident would be recorded and this will go on file against the older kids. For the younger kids, they would make a reference to Community Policing to make further enquiries and increase their presence in the area of Mcdonald's. But as they were younger kids the max may be a warning to parents and a reference to Child Services,” the man added.
He appreciates the quick response of the Police during a very busy period but does not expect much to come of this. “My insistence was only that the errant kids be made to recognise that there is a price to pay for their actions, which would serve as a deterrent. This brazenness in openly attacking us, completely unprovoked, was because they were confident they could get away with their actions *because* they were underage and wouldn’t be detained. Such feral behaviour, and racism in 2022, by kids so young, was truly distressing. Besides being very frightening for my son and wife. It’s perhaps an experience that’s repeated in other town centres many times a week across the country. Shockingly, this happened in Ruislip High Street, an apparently upmarket area!” he told us.
The source hopes that the neighbourhood and community police will act to stop such antisocial violent behaviour by young kids. “But, for now, Ruislip High Street and its restaurants will be a no-go area for me in the evening. With the realisation that open racism still exists in Ruislip today,” he added.
