A man has been arrested after an alleged racist attack at Kingston train station last night.

Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) were called to Kingston station shortly after 8pm when an off-duty officer called for help.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault, a BTP spokesman said.

Kingston police were also called.

Government ministers will today publish a hate crime action plan following an increase in the number of alleged racially aggravated offences reported to police across the county since the EU Referendum last month.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to launch an awareness campaign against hate crime, including the levels of homophobic and racist bullying in schools. 

Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis issued a statement earlier this month saying that the borough had not seen a rise in racially motivated attacks.

He said: “Clearly there were residents on both sides of this argument and we now need to work to heal those divisions, where they exist.

“But, Kingston is an open and tolerant community and I’m proud to report that unlike other parts of the UK, we haven't seen a rise in hate crimes.

“This is a tribute to all the different nationalities that make our borough the vibrant, thriving place that it is."

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 080 0400 5040, quoting reference 513.