Gran, mum and daughter, seven, targeted by man shouting 'racial slurs' in Hawick as hate crime probe launched

Police are investigating an alleged hate crime after a grandmother, mother and daughter were reportedly targeted by a man hurling racial slurs in the Scottish Borders.

The incident on September 16 occurred as the family walked along Hawick’s High Street towards the Boots chemist to pick up a prescription.

After noticing the store was shut, the mother reportedly heard a man shout from across the street. When asked to repeat himself, the man told the family to “go back to where you’re from” and “you shouldn’t be here.”

The woman, who originally is from Leeds and has lived in Scotland for a decade, asked what he meant. The man reportedly proceeded to swear and direct racial slurs towards her, the child and the grandmother.

The woman told STV News: “I didn’t want my daughter to see that I was scared.

“I told him he wouldn’t be saying this if we were men but he kept getting worse. He called us the P-word and started swearing even more.

“We walked towards Morrisons and he crossed onto the same side of the road as us. He disappeared into one of the buildings.

“We were very uncomfortable so decided to head home.”

The mum has never faced any racial abuse during her ten years living in Scotland. However, the incident has left her fearing for the safety of both her and her child.

The mum added: “When we got home, my daughter told me she didn’t want to go to school.

“She asked if the man was shouting because of her grandma’s headscarf or the colour of our skin. She refused to leave the house for three days.

“I’m thinking about whether I’m safe to walk up the road with my child. It has 100% changed the way I go about my day.”

Police Scotland has confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime and are urging those with information to come forward.

A spokesperson from the force said: “We are carrying out enquiries after a report of a hate crime which happened in High Street, Hawick on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

“Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1274 of September 24, 2025.”