Arrests in race hate crackdown

Police from three forces have made a series of arrests aimed at countering race hate crime by right-wing extremists.

Three men and one woman were arrested on Wednesday in Manchester, Egham in Surrey and Bedford.

It follows three earlier arrests in May in Lincolnshire and Manchester.

It brings the total number of arrests to seven in the ongoing operation, which is being led by Lincolnshire Police and began in February.

On Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police arrested a man in the Urmston area on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute racially inflammatory material.

The action we're taking...demonstrates our determination as a police service to stamp out hate crime in whatever form it takes

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Cook, Lincolnshire Police

Surrey Police arrested a 36-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman in Egham on suspicion of being involved in the publication of racially inflammatory material.

Bedfordshire Police arrested a 38-year-old man in Ouseland Road, Bedford, on suspicion of being involved in the publication and distribution of written material likely to stir up racial hatred.

In May, a 37-year-old man was arrested in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, on suspicion of possessing and distributing racial and inflammatory material.

He was released on bail and is due to return to a police station this month.

Greater Manchester Police also arrested two men in the Oldham area in May on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute racially inflammatory material.

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Cook, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "The action we're taking, as a unified group of forces, demonstrates our determination as a police service to stamp out hate crime in whatever form it takes.

"We will not tolerate it and we will track down those responsible."