A SURGE in racist attacks since the Covid-19 pandemic began last year has left east and south-east Asian communities “traumatised and outraged,” a new study has revealed.

Attacks have become “an ongoing problem” in the daily lives of victims, according to the report by Dr Hongwei Bao from the University of Nottingham’s school of cultures, languages and area studies.

The report highlights incidents of victims being assaulted, having their jaw broken, clothes torn off, being spat on and having their restaurants vandalised.

In some parts of Britain there has been a 75 per cent increase in reported incidents over pre-pandemic years, the research found.

The attacks began after the virus was identified as having originated in China.

Dr Bao said: “Racism against east and east Asian people has been a problem for decades and until now the victims have largely suffered in silence.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a huge increase in these incidents that are ruining the lives of people just trying to go about their daily lives, at work, school or leisure, in public spaces and on public transport.

“There have even been heart-breaking examples of British-born young children being targeted by their peers at primary schools.

“Most of the racist abuse has been verbal but there has been an increasing number of violent physical assaults on people of all ages just because of their ethnicity and people’s ignorant perceptions of the global pandemic.”

The report calls for a seven-point plan of action by the government, including a zero-tolerance policy for racism in the police, government and the public sector and “active anti-racism education” in schools and workplaces.