“IT has no place in our society.”

Those are the words of a Southampton councillor after a man was repeatedly punched in a racially-aggravated attack.

As reported yesterday, police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident in Graham Road, St Mary’s.

The 47-year-old man was walking towards Derby Road when he passed a large group of men walking towards him on the same side of the road.

Officers say a group member turned to the man and said “Are you foreign?”.

The victim said he was and continued walking, but he was knocked to the ground by a punch to the side of his face.

He stood to his feet but was punched for a second time, forcing him to the ground again.

The man said the group consisted of ten white men.

The attack, which took place between 9pm and 9.30pm on August 16, came just days before the launch of a Southampton City Council initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in the area.

Street CRED (Crime Reduction and Environment Day) wtook place today in Derby Road as requested by the Newtown Residents’ Association.

Cllr Derek Burke, who represents the Bevois ward on Southampton City Council, called on those who carried out the attack to be caught as soon as possible.

He said: “We work extremely hard over here in Nicholstown and Newtown working with the communities.

“This very rarely happens in Southampton and I am very sad to hear this has happened.

“There is no place for this in our society.

“We have Street CRED which is another example of how good the city is.

“I hope these people are caught very quickly.

“The council and police work together to make sure these things don’t happen, and when they do we stamp it out very quickly.”

Anyone who witnessed the assault, or has information about it, is asked to contact PC Claire Sheehy at Southampton Central police station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.