Hate crimes have gone up by over 70% in just over a year, 60% of victims being women, wearing headscarf or hijab, a report has suggested.
Records from UK's first national anti-Muslim helpline has revealed that there were 816 Islamophobia offences recorded across the city in the last 12 months upto July 2015, compared with 478 for the previous 12 months. In some localities such as Merton, attacks have seen a 250% increase. In Richmond-upon-Thames, compared with just one for the previous year, nine hate crimes were reported this year.
The London Met Police has engaged more than 900 specialist officers across London working in Community Safety Units who are dedicated to investigating hate crime. They have also started talking to local mosques, synagogues and other faith communities to better access hate crimes.
The police reportedly said "We believe an increase in recorded Islamophobic offences in London is due to a range of factors. This includes a growing willingness of victims to report hate crime, an improved awareness of MPS staff in identifying these offences and work with partners to support victims".
Commander Mak Chishty, MPS hate crime officer said "We will not tolerate hate crime and take positive action to investigate all allegations, support victims and arrest offenders. Victims of hate crime must be assured that they will be taken seriously by the police. We are always seeking ways to increase reporting and work with a number of third party reporting sites so that victims who feel unable to approach police direct can report crime to non-police organisations and individuals".
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has made dealing with hate crime a priority and has pledged to develop a new strategy, working with key partners including the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the Crown Prosecution Service and Ministry of Justice.
Commenting on the rise in Islamophobic hate crimes in London, Labour London Assembly Member for Andrew Dismore AM said: “The 70% increase in Islamophobic hate crime is a shameful blight on London’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive and tolerant city. The situation is made even worse by the fact that 60% of attacks are reported to be against women, at times in front of their children...
“These figures show the rocketing scale of the challenge. If, as the Met say, local policing is the answer, its time the Mayor of London recognises the importance of local neighbourhood policing and invests to ensure it is able to work effectively. The Mayor needs to take a lead and make clear that London will take a zero tolerance policy on such horrendous hate crimes.”
The Director of Tell MAMA, Fiyaz Mughal said: “Whilst the figures may show an increase in reporting in, we cannot close our eyes to the facts staring us in the face, that national and international issues such as the murder of Lee Rigby, the Rotherham grooming scandal, ISIS and the Charlie Hebdo murders, created a spike in anti-Muslim hate reporting. These incidents also changed the language of anti-Muslim hate and it is fundamental that we also address some key facts. Schools and educational establishments need more work to be done in challenging intolerance and misunderstanding. Without this, we may still continue to have problems.” Tell MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and maps, measures and measures Islamophobic abuse across the United Kingdom.
