A ‘positive’ step in hate crime probe

Cops report breakthrough

Police investigating two instances of hate crime in Stirling city centre have had a breakthrough with one of the enquiries.

The Observer reported on Friday that officers had released CCTV images of two men they wanted to trace in connection with the offences.

One man was being sought after an alleged religiously-aggravated assault in the Thistles Centre on Monday, April 18, and another man in connection with a raciallyaggravated incident in Sunny Express, Friars Street, on May 28.

After images of both men began to circulate last week, police were provided with a possible name for the man they were looking to trace regarding the shopping centre offence.

It is alleged that, at 2.45pm, a 27-year-old woman who was shopping with a young child was targeted near the Sports Direct store. Police confirmed that they are now following a “positive line of enquiry”.

The public are still being asked for their assistance as officers look to trace a man in connection with the racially motivated crime in Sunny Express.

He is described as white Scottish, in his late-20s, with light brown, short hair and around 5ft 9in tall of slim build.

He has a local accent and, at the time of the offence, he was wearing blue jeans, a blue jumper and dark brown moccasin shoes.

Sergeant Robert Russell of Forth Valley Police said: “We are keen to trace the male in the CCTV footage.

“Anyone with further information relevant to this investigation is asked to get in touch.”

Police can be contacted on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

In last Wednesday’s Observer Stirling area commander, Chief Inspector Lynn Ratcliff urged those who feel they have been victim of a hate crime to contact Police Scotland.