A young Sikh woman’s assault in the West Midlands Oldbury has raised renewed questions about how police handle alleged hate crimes, particularly those involving visibly identifiable minority women. Two people – a 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman from Sandwell, have now been arrested in connection with the case, but only after weeks of pressure from the community.
The September Incident
The woman, in her 20s, was attacked on 9 September while walking along Tame Road in Oldbury. West Midlands Police later confirmed the incident is being treated as a racially aggravated sexual assault– one of the most serious classifications under UK law.
The force has not disclosed further details about the nature of the racial element, but local Sikh groups say witnesses reported slurs during the attack.
Two Arrests via Another Case
The suspects were initially detained in connection with a separate incident in Halesowen, where a woman in her 30s reported being assaulted in Hurst Green Park. That case is not being treated as racially motivated. It was only after further enquiries that the same two individuals were re-arrested in connection with the Oldbury case.
This timeline has unsettled many residents, who feel it should not have taken a second investigation to connect suspects with what was already being reported as a serious hate crime.
Community Reaction and Concern
Community organisations, including Sikh Federation UK, expressed frustration at what they viewed as an initially slow police response.
“When racial motivation is involved, delays carry consequences,” the organisation said, urging police to recognise the impact these cases have on broader community confidence.
Candlelit gatherings were held in Oldbury and Smethwick, where local families, many of them Sikh women- voiced their fears about walking alone. Some described feeling “visible but unprotected.”
Local MP Preet Gill raised the issue in Parliament and called for increased support for victims of hate-based violence. She also noted a reported rise in racially motivated incidents against Sikh and Muslim women in the West Midlands.
Policing and Trust
West Midlands Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing and “remains a priority.” They confirmed that the victim is receiving specialist support services.
However, for many community members, the concern extends beyond this one case. They point to a wider pattern: slow recognition of hate elements in crimes involving women of colour, and a lack of communication during early stages of investigation.
A Wider Context
According to the Home Office, racially and religiously aggravated offences have risen steadily in England and Wales over the past five years. Sikh advocacy groups argue that hate crimes against Sikh women are frequently underreported, partly due to cultural pressures and partly due to doubts about police action. Both suspects remain on bail while enquiries continue. No charges have yet been brought. For the victim and her community, the legal process now begins, but trust, once shaken, is harder to restore.
