Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, Head of Community Engagement for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), issued the following statement on 7th June, detailing the Met’s position on tackling hate crime in the capital.
The Met is committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms.
Year on year we are seeing an increase in all areas of hate crime. This is due to a range of factors – a growing willingness of victims to report hate crime, an overall improved awareness of staff in identifying these offences, and work with partners to support victims. However, we also know world events can also contribute to a rise in hate crime.
Since Saturday evening’s attacks, we have increased the number of officers on the streets and in communities to reassure local people that they are able to go about their daily lives in peace and without fear of harassment or intimidation. Dedicated ward officers have also made contact with their local places of worship to encourage them to report hate crimes and to reassure those who congregate there that the police will take these crimes seriously. The Metropolitan Police has made 25 arrests for hate crime offences since Saturday.
Following the terrorist incidents in Europe in recent years, we have anticipated that similar incidents in the UK may lead to a greater need to support those communities that are more vulnerable to becoming victims of hate crime, and we have taken action accordingly.
We have increased the number of hate crime liaison officers who are a single point of contact for all those who need support after reporting a hate crime and we have introduced an Online Hate Crime Hub to tackle hate crime on social media.
All hate crimes are reviewed by a Detective Inspector and the MPS has also increased specialist investigators within the 32 London borough community safety units by 30%, with more than 900 specialist members of staff dedicated to investigating all hate crime and domestic abuse crimes.
We have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities and the hidden nature of this crime, which remains largely under-reported. The MPS stands together with policing partners, colleagues and groups to investigate all hate crime allegations, support victims and their families, and bring perpetrators to justice.
We would appeal to anyone who witnesses or suffers any hate of any type to immediately report it so that action can quickly be taken and catch those responsible.
• Hate Crime can be reported through 999 in an emergency, by dialling 101 in a non-emergency, directly at a police station, through the MOPAC Hate Crime app or through community reporting methods such as Tell MAMA, Galop, or the CST.
•Read more about it: Local man guilty of sending offensive tweets to MP http://londonbangla.com/local-man-guilty-sending-offensive-tweets-mp/ Mayhem at Needoo http://londonbangla.com/mayhem-at-needoo/
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