Race Crime: More Than 16 Are Victims Each Day

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Byline: Graham Grant Home Affairs Editor

THE number of race crime victims in Scotland has soared to record levels, fuelling fears of a growing backlash against rising immigration.

New figures show that 5,972 people were the target of racist offences in 2008-2009 - more than 16 per day.

Shockingly, one in four such crimes were committed by children under 16.

There has also been a four-fold increase in the number of white, non-British victims from places such as Eastern Europe.

Scotland has seen a surge in racially motivated attacks since Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia joined the EU in 2004.

The figures, released yesterday …