RACIST incidents against members of the Bangladeshi community in Ipswich can now be reported at their own community centre.The Bangladeshi Support Centre was set up in Tower Street, Ipswich, four years ago as a focal point for the local community.

RACIST incidents against members of the Bangladeshi community in Ipswich can now be reported at their own community centre.

The Bangladeshi Support Centre was set up in Tower Street, Ipswich, four years ago as a focal point for the local community.

Now it can be used by members of that community who want to report racist incidents against them.

Until now they have had to make the reports at the town's police station or the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Mahbubul Alam of the support centre said: "This is important for the Bangladeshi community. They feel a lot more comfortable in their own centre and speaking their own language – it will make it much easier for them to report racist incidents."

The centre gives advice to members of the Bangladeshi community, and also helps them integrate into society.

"We see this move as very important. At present it is estimated that only about one in 17 racist incidents is actually reported – anything to increase that proportion is good," said Assistant Chief Constable Colin Langham-Fitt, of Suffolk Police.