EDUCATION secretary Gavin Williamson is being pressed by Sikh MPs and organisations to urgently act to clamp down on bullying of Sikh schoolchildren after a shocking video of violence emerged.

West Mercia Police confirmed today that an attack on a Sikh schoolboy, which was filmed by witnesses and posted on social media, is being treated as a hate crime and that an investigation is ongoing.

The video seen by the Morning Star shows two boys kicking a Sikh boy, and tackling him to the floor before repeatedly punching him in the head. His turban also appears to have been pulled off. 

The UK’s National Sikh Police Association described the incident involving boys walking home from Charlton School, in Telford, Shropshire, as an “absolutely disgusting” attack.

The Sikh Federation (UK) said it has written to Mr Williamson to ask if the Department for Education will take action on hate crimes and bullying of Sikh schoolchildren due to their visible identity.

The letter has been copied to Labour MP and all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for British Sikhs chairwoman Preet Kaur Gill and Tory MP for Telford Lucy Allan.

Slough Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said that he was saddened to see such “vile behaviour” towards a young boy and that it brought back “memories of when someone tried to pull off my turban at school.”

He added: “Bullying and anti-Sikh hate cannot be tolerated.”

Charlton School said in an online statement that it has taken “swift, immediate and appropriate action” over the incident on November 13.

Last month, the Sikh Federation and Sikh Network organised a virtual lobby on anti-Sikh hate involving more than 40 MPs.  

The APPG for British Sikhs has produced a report on anti-Sikh hate and is waiting for a response from Home Secretary Priti Patel and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

A government spokesperson said: “The government has zero tolerance for hate crime. We will continue to work across government and with the police to bear down on offenders, support victims and eradicate prejudice.”