THE father of a teenage girl who was beaten and kicked in Bristol city centre believes more should have been done to help her.
The sixth former at a South Gloucestershire school, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was attacked in Penn Street on the evening of March 4 at around 7.45pm, shortly after leaving the Zara Cabot Circus store.
She needed hospital treatment for head injuries afterwards.
Five children, aged between 12 and 14, have since been arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, causing racially aggravated fear of violence and grievous bodily harm with intent. They have been released on police bail.
The girl’s father, who lives in Staple Hill, says she was followed around the city centre for about 20 minutes by a group of up to 30 children, who were shouting at her and asking her name and school.
He said: “She got scared and tried to get on a bus, but they surrounded her and waved the bus on.”
The dad feels his daughter was let down by adults in the area before the attack took place. He says she went into the Zara store while she was being followed to seek help, and says that the attack took place in view of adults including security staff.
Police were called by residents of a nearby student housing block, where his daughter took refuge afterwards.
A demonstration over the incident, attended by around 20 people, was held outside the Zara store on March 14, and led to the doors being briefly locked.
The dad believes the attack was linked with a ‘school wars’ trend on social media, where schools were put on two opposing ‘red’ and ‘blue’ lists and encouraged to arrange fights.
He said: “When she told them the school she goes to, one of them shouted ‘she’s a red’.”
Since the incident, he said his daughter had stayed in her room, embarrassed by the number of people who had watched videos of the attack online.
The dad said: “I can’t get her to leave the house.
“I just feel let down, I really do. I think she was failed by a lot of people that night.”
A police spokesperson said a 14-year-old girl, and a girl and boy aged 13 were arrested the day after the incident, with a boy aged 12, and another 14-year-old girl arrested two days later.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call 101 and quote the reference number 5226 061 116.
Both Cabot Circus and Zara UK say they have reviewed CCTV footage and spoken to staff after the incident.
A Cabot Circus spokesperson said: “Following the awful incident that took place in the city centre, we are aware of a short period of time when the victim entered Cabot Circus.
“There was no approach to the security team and if they had been made aware they would have acted swiftly and professionally given the seriousness of the situation.
“We have fully supported the police with their enquiries, including sharing all CCTV footage.”
A Zara UK spokesperson said: “Our security team and some staff were aware of a group of young people causing a commotion, but at the time it was not apparent that the victim was under threat while in the store, or as she left. 0If our colleagues had understood that anyone was being harassed or in distress, they would have sought to support them.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers is extremely important to us, and our teams are expected to assist anyone who they understand to be in distress.
“We were horrified by this attack and how it escalated after the victim left our store, and we are committed to supporting the police and the victim to ensure she gets justice.””