Hate Crime Spike Prompts Police Review And £2.4m Fund To Boost Security At Places Of Worship

'Hatred has no place whatsoever in a 21st century Great Britain.'

A £2.4 million fund is being created to boost security around mosques, synagogues, churches and other places of worship following a spike in hate crime after the EU referendum.

The announcement comes as watchdogs are set to assess the police response to the crime wave and levels of anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist bullying in schools under a new Government drive.

The steps will be outlined on Tuesday as ministers publish a hate crime action plan.

£2.4m is to be spent boosting security around mosques, synagogues, churches and other places of worship following a spike in hate crime
£2.4m is to be spent boosting security around mosques, synagogues, churches and other places of worship following a spike in hate crime
Alessia Pierdomenico / Reuters

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to commission police to carry out a “scoping study” into forces’ understanding of and response to hate crime.

It will look at how constabularies deal with hate crime and cover all strands including crimes against the disabled.

A new programme to equip teachers to facilitate conversations around international events and the impact they have on communities in the UK will also be announced.

The Home Office said the Government will work with schools on how to report incidents of hate crime.

The assessment of bullying in schools comes after police figures indicated that young people were the victims of 10% of faith hate crime and 8% of race hate crime for the three-week period between June 16 and July 7.

Home secretary Amber Rudd is expected to announce measures to combat hate crime on Tuesday
Home secretary Amber Rudd is expected to announce measures to combat hate crime on Tuesday
PA/PA Wire

The plan will contain measures aimed at increasing reporting of incidents, as well as work to prevent offences on public transport.

Figures in religious communities have raised concerns about crimes ranging from graffiti to arson.

Rudd said: “This Government is determined to build a Britain that works for everyone. Those who practise hatred send out a message that it’s okay to abuse and attack others because of their nationality, ethnicity or religious background; that it’s okay to disregard our shared values and promote the intolerance that causes enormous harm to communities and individuals.

“Well, I have a very clear message for them - we will not stand for it. Hatred has no place whatsoever in a 21st century Great Britain that works for everyone.

“We are Great Britain because we are united by values such as democracy, free speech, mutual respect and opportunity for all.

A note left for a Polish family after arsonists set their garage on fire
A note left for a Polish family after arsonists set their garage on fire
Ewa Banaszka

“We are the sum of all our parts - a proud, diverse society. Hatred does not get a seat at the table, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out.”

Figures released on Friday showed more than 6,000 alleged hate crimes and incidents were reported to police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in four weeks from the middle of last month.

The daily rate peaked at 289 reports on June 25 - the day after the referendum result was announced.

The main type of offence reported was “violence against the person”, which includes harassment and common assault as well as verbal abuse, spitting and “barging”.

Public order offences and criminal damage were the second and third most common incidents respectively.

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