Kent Messenger Maidstone

Family racially abused in McDonald’s bust up

Tirade of foul language hurled at woman and her children

- By Rhys Griffiths rgriffiths@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family was racially abused at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

The dispute erupted in Maidstone when two sets of diners clashed over their place in the queue to be served.

A man got out of the passenger seat of a red Vauxhall Corsa and directed a tirade of racist language towards a woman and her children who were in a black Audi.

The incident happened at the Hart Street branch of the popular burger chain between 7pm and 7.30pm on Friday, March 12, but police issued a public appeal for witnesses to come forward last week.

Officers investigat­ing the altercatio­n are urging anyone who was in the area and may have seen the incident to contact them.

Anyone with dashcam footage which may assist the investigat­ion is also asked to check footage.

The suspect is described as being in his 20s, around 5ft 10in

tall, and wearing a grey jumper and what were described as tradesman’s work trousers. A report to Maidstone Borough Council last year found there had been a 15% rise in hate crime year-on-year, with race prejudice accounting for 69% of the 426 incidents reported. Last week a landmark report

controvers­ially concluded the UK was “not institutio­nally racist” but did say “overt racism persists”.

The review set up by No 10 said the country “no longer” has a system rigged against people from ethnic minorities

Instead it concluded factors such as family structure and

social class have a bigger impact than race on how people’s lives turn out.

However academics and campaigner­s for racial equality criticised the report’s findings. If you have informatio­n which may assist the investigat­ion call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/40571/21.

 ?? Stock image ?? Maidstone McDonald’s Hart Street was the scene of an incident where a family suffered racial abuse, leading to a police appeal
Stock image Maidstone McDonald’s Hart Street was the scene of an incident where a family suffered racial abuse, leading to a police appeal

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