Four St Richard's Hospital doctors report racist assault in Chichester, criticise police response
Four doctors attacked outside a Chichester pub have accused Sussex Police of failing to investigate properly. They have written to their MP calling for action.
Chichester doctors punched and subjected to racist abuse outside pub, police response under review
Four doctors working at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester were punched, kicked and struck with a handbag during a racist attack outside a pub in Southgate shortly before 11.20pm on 20 October, according to The Argus. The group has since accused Sussex Police of failing to properly investigate the incident and has written an open letter to Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller calling for intervention.
The doctors, who requested anonymity citing safety concerns, say they had just left The Foundry pub when two teenage girls began verbally abusing them without provocation. The alleged slurs included "you immigrants, go back to your own country", "get back in your dinghies", "you P***s", "you're all rapists" and "you rape children".
"When we attempted to leave, we were followed and physically assaulted, being repeatedly punched, kicked and struck across the face with a handbag," the group stated in their open letter.
Sussex Police confirmed that two suspects — a woman aged 18 and a girl aged 17 — were initially detained and spoken to by officers. Arrangements are being made for the pair to be formally interviewed. A spokesperson described the incident as being treated as a racist hate crime, with officers actively investigating.
Complaints about handling of the case
The doctors say they made the emergency call themselves out of fear for their safety, yet claim officers spoke to the alleged attackers before taking any accounts from the victims. They also questioned why only one person's details were recorded on the night despite all four being involved.
Officers reportedly indicated that formal statements would be taken that evening. According to the group, 15 days passed without any statements being obtained. They were contacted by Victim Support approximately a week after the incident and were informed the organisation had only recently been notified of the case.
"To say we felt neglected and unsupported in that moment would be quite an understatement," the letter reads.
The group also raised concerns about whether the racial element of the attack had been properly recognised and recorded as a hate crime. "To our knowledge, no arrests have been made, and we have received no reassurance regarding the progress of the investigation or the steps being taken to hold those responsible accountable," they wrote.
Impact on the doctors and broader concerns
Several members of the group required time away from work at St Richard's Hospital following the incident. Beyond their own circumstances, the doctors expressed concern about what the attack might mean for other ethnic minority healthcare workers and residents in Chichester.
"Our intention in raising these concerns is not simply to seek answers for ourselves, but to ensure that victims of racially motivated violence are treated with dignity, taken seriously and provided with appropriate support," the letter states. The group added that they hope the experience leads to "meaningful accountability and change".
Police and MP responses
Detective Chief Inspector Ali Hutchings said the force acknowledges the distress caused to the victims and recognises the incident will also concern the wider Chichester community following other recent high-profile hate crimes. "We take reports of hate crime extremely seriously," Hutchings said. "Hate has no place in our communities. Where hate crimes are reported to us, we will pursue lines of enquiry, work to safeguard victims, and take robust action against offenders."
Hutchings confirmed that Sussex Police are reviewing their response to the case. "We will be working with the victims to understand their concerns and to ensure we provide a thorough and effective investigation into this incident," he said.
A separate police spokesperson appealed for witnesses and urged anyone with mobile phone footage, CCTV or dashcam recordings to come forward. Information can be reported online or by calling 101 and quoting serial 1462 of 20/10.
Chichester's Liberal Democrat MP Jess Brown-Fuller described the allegations as "deeply concerning". "Following their letter, I contacted the police to ensure they urgently receive the support they need," Brown-Fuller said. She added that she has been working with local partners to strengthen efforts to tackle hate crime, intolerance and anti-social behaviour in the city. "Nobody should feel unsafe in our community, and we all need to stand together against this toxicity."
Wider context in Chichester
The incident follows comments made by actor Munya Chawawa, who said he had encountered more racism and xenophobia during his recent run at the Chichester Festival Theatre than at any previous point in his life. Those remarks prompted the organisation of a march against racism in the city and brought questions about Chichester's attitude to race into renewed public focus.
Source: The Argus