RACE crimes against ethnic minorities in York peaked in the month following the killing of two Leeds Utd fans by Turkish supporters, police figures reveal.

Among the 54 incidents recorded during the past year were threats, stone-throwing, harassment and assaults.

The figures, announced at the annual general meeting of the York Racial Equality Network, show there were ten racially-motivated incidents reported to York police in April.

It was on April 6 that two Leeds supporters were killed by rival fans in Istanbul and the incident triggered a spate of attacks on Turks - and others mistaken for them - around the country.

The April figure is twice the number reported for the preceding and following months.

But, as reported last month in the Evening Press, ethnic minority leaders believe the real figure could be more than twice this number again.

The network's outgoing chairwoman Yvie Holder said the figures confirmed what many ethnic minorities living in the city already knew.

"Racially-motivated crimes are committed on a regular basis and they tend to be committed in the local community by local people," she said.

"I am saddened that others have suffered the same fate but do not appear on the statistics either because they don't report the crime or because they do and it is not recorded properly."

Mrs Holder said victims of racial crimes carried psychological and emotional scars following their ordeal because of the lack of support for them in the community.

And she added: "We all know people who have left York because of racist incidents here."

Commissioner Shushila Patel, of the Commission for Racial Equality, said: "York has a small and geographically dispersed ethnic population compared to other cities, but the evidence shows that dispersed groups are often the most vulnerable to harassment, intimidation and the effects of institutional racism.

"Low numbers do not equate to no racism."

The city's Indian and Pakistani communities were the most frequent victims of racially motivated incidents - 18 of the 54 total incidents reported.

Also targeted were Turks, blacks, Germans, Irish people and Kosovans.

Since April, there has been a downturn in incidents.

Superintendent John Lacy, of York police, said his officers would be taking part in a two-day training programme to deal more effectively with crimes against all minorities.

He said: "The force is determined that homophobia, racism and disrespect to any minority group will not be tolerated within its own organisation and on the streets of York and North Yorkshire."