Islamophobic attacker sent to jail

A MAN WHO subjected two Muslim women to an Islamophobic attack is now in jail – and will face ongoing supervision on his release.

The offence occurred when Alex Chivers, 36, of Bryanstone Road, Waltham Cross was walking down Hertford Road, Enfield, late in the afternoon of 8th June. He approached a Muslim teenager who was with her mother and shouted Islamophobic comments at them, including the words “ISIL scum”. He went on to hit the teenager in the face with an open packet of bacon, shouting “you deserve this”.

The victim was not physically injured, but she was distressed by the attack. She bravely reported the attack to the police and officers from Enfield Community Safety Unit investigated. They were able to identify Chivers as their suspect and he was arrested on 14th June and charged with one count of racially or religiously aggravated assault and one count of causing racially or religiously aggravated alarm or distress.

Chivers appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 15th June. The police had evidence in the form of a video of the attack which one of Chivers’s mates had taken. Although it was a sickening thought that the offence was planned, with one perpetrator and a group of mates looking on, the video did make quite clear what Chivers had done.

Chivers attended Court again on 29th June and was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment for the assault and 12 weeks in prison for a public order offence, which he will serve at the same time. He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge. When he has served the appropriate time in prison he will be released on licence and will have to complete a twelve month supervision order.

DC James Payne from Enfield Community Safety Unit (CSU) said, “This was a truly shocking incident. The victim was out with her mother and getting on with her day when Chivers abused her and then set upon her with something he knew would both upset and offend her. […] The Community Safety Unit here in Enfield would encourage all victims of hate crime to contact police so that the culprits can be identified and brought to justice.”

The Metropolitan Police Service issued a statement which added, “The Met have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities and the hidden nature of this crime, which remains largely under-reported. The MPS stands together with policing partners, colleagues and groups to investigate all hate crime allegations, support victims and their families, and bring perpetrators to justice.

“We would appeal to anyone who witnesses or suffers any hate of any type to immediately report it so that action can quickly be taken and catch those responsible.

Hate crime can be reported through 999 in an emergency, by dialling 101 in a non-emergency, directly at a police station, through the MOPAC Hate Crime app or through community reporting methods such as Tell MAMA, Galop, or the Community Security Trust.”

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