Restaurants complain of race hate

Some restaurant owners in a Nottinghamshire village have said they are living in fear of race-hate crimes.

At least three takeaways in the village of Huthwaite have had windows smashed in recent months, with staff also reporting racial abuse from youths.

They have demanded more help from police to tackle what they claim is a growing problem.

Police said they took such reports very seriously and two related prosecutions were currently under way.

'Specific plan'

None of the affected shops wanted to be named but one Chinese takeaway owner said problems had only started this year.

"I have been here for three years and, up until February, there have been no problems.

"Since then we have had five windows smashed, which has cost more than £1,000, and I have been verbally abused."

She added: "The police told me that they could not be here 24 hours and because the people doing this are teenagers they cannot do anything, and that really disappointed me."

Insp Andy Clarke, whose Sutton West patch includes Huthwaite, denied the officers' hands were tied.

"We can deal with these problems but we have to deal with each specific case on its own merits, because of rules about evidence and what we can and can't prove.

"But we have a specific plan in place to deal with each of these crimes to make sure we give the best service we can."

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One restaurant owner, who did not want to be named, said youths broke his windows