POLICE boss Angus Macpherson has condemned the spike in racist abuse as a result of Brexit.

His comments come after a Polish woman was the victim of a racially-aggravated assault on Friday evening in Salisbury.

Foreign nationals in Swindon have also spoken of incidents where they have faced a barrage of xenophobic comments.

On Saturday, an Italian student, who is studying computing, was talking on his phone in his mother tongue near Swindon Bus Station when a man tried to intimidate him and shouted ‘go back home.’ He did not make a complaint to police but was shocked by the incident.

The police and crime commissioner has reassured people in Swindon and Wiltshire that there has not been an increase in racial abuse in the county and if there is, it will not be tolerated.

“I am disturbed to see reported rises in racially-aggravated and religious incidents across the country since Friday morning,” he said.

“Some of these incidents are very serious, and suggest that there are people who feel that the result of Thursday’s vote somehow means that this is no longer criminal behaviour.

“In or out of Europe, they remain crimes and dealing with them effectively and robustly is a policing priority.

“Wiltshire Police is committed to bringing cases of such assaults, abuse or harassment before the courts. To commit such crimes is to risk a stiff sentence.”

Some Twitter users have been reporting incidents of racist abuse under the hashtag #PostRefRacism.

French-born Adver feature writer Marion Sauvebois has also noticed a rise in animosity from people towards her even before the EU referendum results were revealed.

The 28-year-old was born in France but made the UK her home 11 years ago.

“Brexit’s campaign has definitely fuelled hatred,” she said.

“In the weeks leading up the referendum, I’ve been asked by a complete stranger at the supermarket where I was from the moment after I asked for cashback at the till, only to glower at me when I answered.

“I’ve been asked what I was doing in the UK several times – a question which never normally would have bothered me, it’s only fair to wonder really, but the tone these days is not the usual one of curiosity.

“I was told last Friday by an elderly woman the country couldn’t afford to ‘prop up people like you.’ And while on the phone to my mother in the street, someone hearing me speak French asked mockingly ‘what I’m was still doing here’.

“I had never been exposed to such hostility before this whole Brexit madness.”

Speaking about verbal threats and comments people may encounter, the police and crime commissioner said: “If people feel threatened by violence then they should phone 999. If they want to report a verbal comment call 101, it gives the constabulary intelligence on where incidents are happening. What we don’t know we can’t police. We can’t be complacent and urge people to continue as normal, or even better than normal.”