England: Islamophobic Hate Crimes Double in Avon and Somerset
Data reveals an increase from 35 reported incidents in 2022-23 to 76 in 2023-24, with Muslims now accounting for over a third of clients supported by the hate crime charity Stand Up Against Racism and Inequality (SARI), Bristol Live reported on Saturday.
Alex Raikes, SARI’s CEO, described the distressing trend: “We’ve seen a high level of distressing reports of anti-Muslim hate coming in since the tragic killings in Southport. These include hijabs being ripped off and ridiculed; children being verbally racially abused and threatened; people being physically attacked, including punched in the face, and some have sustained serious injuries.”
Raikes stressed the role of misinformation and prejudice in fueling Islamophobia.
Certain sections of the media and politicians stoke fear, portraying Islam as a threat, she said, adding that this narrative creates an environment where hate can thrive.
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The national picture mirrors these findings. Home Office statistics indicate a 13% rise in Islamophobic incidents across the UK, attributed in part to tensions following the start of the Israeli war on Gaza in October last year.
Tell MAMA, a UK organization monitoring anti-Muslim incidents, reports a surge in hate crimes during this period, including attacks on asylum-seeker accommodations.
Chief Inspector Karen Corrigan of Avon and Somerset Police emphasized the importance of reporting. “It is widely acknowledged that hate crime in general is an area that is vastly under-reported, so seeing the number of reports rising over the past few years is in some ways encouraging, showing more people have trust and confidence in policing to report it to us.”
Efforts include outreach with schools, direct communication with community leaders, and support for officers through the newly established Association of Muslim Police.
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“Every hate crime has a massive impact on the victim and the wider community,” she said, urging people to report incidents through our emergency lines, non-emergency contacts, or our website.
Avon and Somerset Police logged a 20% overall rise in hate crime reports last year, with August alone witnessing 677 incidents, 70% of which were racially motivated.
Source: Agencies
