**Oldbury rape victim upset when police told her they had released man arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated rape ** Birmingham – 23 September 2025
Last week when the police went to see the young Sikh woman raped in Oldbury she had expected they would confirm the man in his 30s that they had arrested a couple of days earlier on suspicion of racially aggravated rape was to be charged.
However, the victim, her family and the Sikh community were very disappointed when the police told her the man had been released on bail without charge pending further inquiries. The police are required under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime to inform a victim of a rape case when a suspect is released on bail.
Two weeks after the horrific racially aggravated rape the Sikh community is increasing political pressure to get justice for the rape victim in Oldbury by launching a mass letter writing campaign.
In the first 24 hours of launching the campaign hundreds of letters had gone to over.100 MPs encouraging them to: a) Make a public statement condemning the racist attack and rape of the young Sikh woman in Oldbury. b) Write to Craig Guilford, the Chief Constable for West Midlands Police challenging certain aspects of the way the police has handled the racist attack and rape in Oldbury. c) Force the Labour MP for Smethwick, to make a public apology for his offensive and insensitive comments about the conviction of rape victims or have him suspended for 10 sitting days from the House of Commons. d) Ask the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Communities Secretary their timetable to treat Anti-Sikh hate on a par with Antisemitism and Islamophobia
Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the Lead Executive for Political Engagement at the Sikh Federation (UK) said:
“Dozens of rape victims and organisations that support them have contacted the Sikh Federation (UK) in the last two weeks expressing sympathy with the Oldbury victim and offering support.”
“Some have been critical of the way police can handle such cases and others expressed fury at politicians like the new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood for only condemning the racially aggravated rape when challenged in Parliament almost a week later.”
“However, the insensitive comments reported in Sky News on how difficult it is to get convictions for rape by Gurinder Josan, the local Labour MP for Smethwick have attracted most of the comments and complaints.”
“He has had nearly 10 days to issue an apology for his insensitive comments, but he remains silent so further pressure and action is needed.”
The letter constituents can send to their local MP is at the following link Government approach to Anti-Sikh hate crimes following racist attacks in Oldbury and Wolverhampton and is designed to make it easier to email MPs.
ENDS Jaspal Singh Lead Executive Sikh Federation (UK)