DEANO

The attackers are described as being, erm, some blokes

A FEW days back police issued a description of a suspect after a robber smashed his way into a man’s home in Dover.

According to police, the ginger- haired man who launched the attack had a ‘ thick Scottish accent’ and ‘ strong body odour’.

Or, as the force spokesman put it: “The alleged attacker is described as being ‘ chubby’ and about 6ft 2in. He had strong body odour and spoke with a Scottish accent.”

His accomplice is described by police as being ‘ skinny’ and was wearing a blue fleece.

Graham Harper, a neighbour of the victim, said: “It shouldn’t be hard to track this guy down as he’s pretty distinctive – he’s fat, smelly and ginger and with a strong Scottish accent.

“The police should have this guy in custody in no time.”

Too right, Graham. Surely, descriptions are extremely important when it comes to tracking down wrongdoers.

But not so, it seems, to police looking for a group of men who savagely gang- raped a young woman in a park in Bromley, south east London.

The woman was attacked in broad daylight behind a theatre, near a gazebo and a wooden bench in Church House Gardens.

The girl said that the group of men approached her and at least two raped her.

And the description circulated by the police?

“A group twenties.” That should narrow it down. You may as well say: “Police are looking for some blokes. If you see some blokes, do not approach them. Dial 999.”

We have no idea of the ethnic origin of this woman’s attackers. The police have not told us.

It would be beyond disgraceful if police were withholding certain details of the attackers’ appearance because of some misplaced sense of ethnic sensitivity.

We know that the Metropolitan Police came in for a hammering about racism in their ranks after the botched Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry.

But have things really swung so far the other way that nobody at the Met dare even mention suspects’ ethnicity? of men in their