Police appeal for help with Hate Crime Incident in Bristol

Avon & Somerset Police are appealing for help in tracing a man who launched a hate crime on a 17-year-old boy in Bristol City Centre.

The victim was with friends in McDonald’s in Merchant Street, at around 3.55pm on Saturday 11th January, when they became aware of a man staring at them. They left the restaurant and walked towards The Podium which is located in the centre of Broadmead.

When they were outside the ‘Select Fashion’ store, a man approached them from behind and pushed the victim in the back. He then used homophobic language towards him before slapping him around the face.

The man in the image is white, with blond hair, and he was wearing a dark gillet with a yellow t-shirt underneath and dark jeans. He had a pair of sunglasses on top of his head.

Investigating officer PC Richard Glanville said: “We are treating this as a hate crime because of the language the man used towards the victim during the assault. It is completely unacceptable to use homophobic language and we take incidents like this extremely seriously.”

“I would like anyone who recognises the man in the image, or who witnessed the assault outside Select, to come forward.”

If you can help, please call PC Glanville via the 24-hour non-emergency number 101 and quote log number 3651/14.

The image of the man the police are looking for can be found on the Avon & Somerset Police Website