Kent's police and crime commissioner has asked for an independent review into the police handling of a racist attack on a beach.

Matthew Scott initially called for an urgent review after police failed to attend Minster beach on the Isle of Sheppey, where a Jewish family were subjected to racist abuse on Sunday.

The parents and their five children, aged between eight and 15 - who said a group of youths pelted stones at them - chose to cut short their holiday and return to their home in Stamford Hill, north London.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the crime commissioner confirmed Kent Police had begun looking into the call and its circumstances to find out whether "anything should have been done differently".

However, today Mr Scott is asking for it to be looked into independently.

He said: "I am sorry and saddened that an alleged hate crime against a family visiting Minster-on-Sea took place on Sunday afternoon in our county, and that concerns have been raised about the way in which the matter has been handled by Kent Police.

"Part of my role as PCC is to hold Kent Police to account, so I have met with the assistant chief constable and the director of corporate services to discuss the case.

"Kent Police has already reviewed the case, met with the victim, and made two arrests. The investigation remains ongoing.

"I have asked for the reasons behind the decision not to attend to be investigated - under the police’s threat, harm and risk criteria - and for consideration to be given for the call handing to be independently reviewed."

He added: "I am quite clear that hate has no place in our society and that no one should have to suffer from crime and abuse because of their religion, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or disability.

"I encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim of hate crime to come forward and report it to the police. But if you don’t have that confidence yet, I fund a project run by Citizens Advice Medway called Individuality, which offers help to victims of hate crime no matter where they live in the county.

"I want victims to have the confidence to come forward, and when organisations representing any community expresses concerns about a particular issue or trend that they are taken extremely seriously too."

Following Sunday's alleged assault an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence.

They have been released while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information can call police on 01795 419119, quoting reference 28-0929.