Hate crimes rise in Wales after the EU referendum
RECORD levels of hate crime were reported by police forces in England and Wales in the aftermath of last year’s EU referendum on June 23, new analysis has shown.
Figures show that levels of hate crime offences recorded in Wales’ four police forces all rose in July-September 2016, compared with figures from April-June 2016.
The number of hate crime offences reported to South Wales Police for July-September 2016 was 276, up 10% compared to April-June 2016.
North Wales Police saw incidents for the same period total 56, up 22%, Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 35 offences, up 52%, and Gwent Police recorded 77 hate crime offences, up 22%.
The figures, compiled by the Press Association, show that, in the three months ending September 2016, 33 out of 44 forces across England and Wales recorded the highest quarterly number of hate crimes since comparable records began in April 2012.
The analysis also shows that three forces each recorded more than 1,000 hate crimes: The Metropolitan Police (3,356); Greater Manchester (1,033) and West Yorkshire (1,013). Only four forces reported a decrease on the previous three months.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the findings suggested a small number of people used the Brexit vote “to legitimise inexcusable racism and prejudice”, while the charity Victim Support said that more needed to be done to encourage victims to come forward.
Provisional figures on hate crimes published by the Home Office in October 2016 suggested that offences in July 2016 were 41% higher than in July 2015.
The new analysis shows that a rise in incidents was seen in almost every force in England and Wales, both year-on-year and when comparing the three months either side of the referendum.
Chief Superintendent Mark Warrender, the Gwent Police lead for hate crime, said: “Although there has been a steady increase in the overall recording of hate crime, it is still a prominent issue which is significantly under-reported.
“The Crime Survey for England and Wales has previously indicated that over 40% of personal hate crimes are not reported to the police.
“We would encourage anyone who has experienced any type of hate incident to get in touch so that we can help.”
David Isaac, chair of the EHRC, said it “must be sensible to prepare for any possible spikes” in hate crime once Brexit negotiations got under way.
“The vast majority of people who voted to leave the European Union did so because they believed it was best for Britain and not because they are intolerant of others,” he said.
“It is clear, however, that a small minority of people used the Brexit vote to legitimise inexcusable racism and prejudice. We cannot allow such intolerable acts of hate to be condoned or repeated.”
Lucy Hastings, director at Victim Support, revealed the charity last year supported 16,000 victims of hate crime in England and Wales and confirmed a spike in referrals in the aftermath of the EU vote.
She added: “Hate crime has no place in our society and every victim of this crime is one too many.”