New hate crime record after racial attacks rocket during Black Lives Matter protests and far-right backlash – The Independent

Hate crime has hit a new record after racially-motivated incidents rocketed during Black Lives Matter protests and a far-right backlash.

Police recorded over 124,000 hate crimes across England and Wales in the year to March, of which three-quarters were racial.

A Home Office report published on Tuesday said police have improved the way the crimes are recorded, but there have also been short-term genuine rises in hate crime following certain trigger events.

It added: Increases in hate crime were seen around the EU referendum in June 2016 and the terrorist attacks in 2017. There was also an increase in public order hate crimes during the summer of 2020 following the widespread Black Lives Matter protests and far-right counter-protests.

The death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in the US in May 2020, triggered huge demonstrations in London and towns and cities across the UK.

In response, some far-right groups took up the slogan white lives matter and mounted counter-protests that saw clashes.

The vandalism of statues linked with slavery and colonialism during some Black Lives Matter protests sparked rallies by people claiming to defend monuments, including one that saw police attacked in London in June 2020.

More than 92,000 race hate crimes were recorded in the year (74 per cent of all hate crimes), as well as 18,500 motivated by sexual orientation (15 per cent), 9,943 disability (8 per cent), 6,377 religion (5 per cent) and 2,799 transgender (2 per cent).

The overall number of hate crimes increased by 9 per cent on the previous year, which was itself a record.

But only 10 per cent of all hate crimes resulted in a prosecution, figures show, and a suspect is not identified by police in a quarter of cases.

Figures show racial hate crimes spiking during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and counter-protests

(Home Office)

Labour said the statistics must be a wake-up call for urgent change.

The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, added: The shamefully small number of offenders being brought to justice shows how damaging Tory police cuts have been, allowing vile criminals to escape justice yet again.

The backlash against people standing up to racial injustice shows how far we have to go as a country to defeat hatred.

The Race Equality Foundation said the figures paint a bleak picture for equality in the UK.

Chief executive Jabeer Butt OBE added: The fact that almost three quarters of hate crimes were racially motivated shows just how far is left to go towards building a society that is truly tolerant and anti-racist.

It is all too clear that too many people still face horrific attacks simply on the basis of who they are. The government's Hate Crime Action Plan has clearly fallen short and needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency.

The largest proportionate rise was to race hate crime, up 12 per cent, while disability hate crimes increased by 9 per cent, sexual orientation hate crimes by 7 per cent and transgender identity hate crimes by 3 per cent.

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis

PA

A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square

AP

People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester

REUTERS

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

PA

Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester

Getty Images

People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square

AP

Demonstrators in Leicester

REUTERS

A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square

REUTERS

A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester

REUTERS

A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London

AFP via Getty Images

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff

PA

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London

PA

Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury

Getty Images

People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

PA

Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square

Getty Images

Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London

AFP via Getty Images

Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London

Getty Images

Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square

PA

Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester

Reuters

A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square

REUTERS

Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London

REUTERS

Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton

REUTERS

A protest at Parliament Square in London

EPA

A demonstrator in Leicester

REUTERS

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square

PA

Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester

REUTERS

Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station

AP

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast

PA

Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London

PA

Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square

AFP via Getty Images

Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London

AP

People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

PA

Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London

AP

People are seen placing placards on a fence in London

REUTERS

A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford

REUTERS

A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd

PA

Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford

REUTERS

Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street

AP

Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London

AP

Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square

AP

A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square

Read the original post:

New hate crime record after racial attacks rocket during Black Lives Matter protests and far-right backlash - The Independent