UK hate crimes surge following southport attack and gaza conflict
The UK has experienced significant rises in both islamophobic and anti semitic hate crimes over the past 18 months, according to newly released figures. Data obtained from three major police forces—metropolitan police, greater manchester police, and west midlands police—revealed notable spikes in hate offences targeting jewish and muslim communities after pivotal global and domestic events.
Hate crimes targeting jewish communities
Following the outbreak of the israel-hamas conflict in october 2023, anti semitic hate crimes surged dramatically. Greater manchester Police recorded 85 offences against jewish people in October 2023 and 68 in november, compared to an average of just 13 per month during the first nine months of that year. Similarly, west yorkshire police reported a leap from an average of six anti semitic offences per month to 44 in October 2023.
Dave rich, a spokesperson for the jewish charity community security trust (CST), said, “These figures show similar trends as CST’s own anti semitic data, with a sharp rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes following the october 7 attack. The increases are even more shocking given the relatively small size of Jewish communities in some areas. This kind of hatred should be unacceptable to all.”
Islamophobic hate crimes on the rise
The July 2024 southport stabbings and subsequent riots led to a sharp increase in islamophobic hate crimes. Greater manchester police recorded an average of 33 offences per month in 2023, rising to 39 in the first half of 2024. However, this figure soared to 94 in august and 73 in september following the unrest.
Iman Atta, the director of tell mama, an organisation that monitors anti-muslim hate, said, “We have assisted over 5,000 british muslims this year, and the number keeps rising. Anti-muslim hate spikes repeatedly due to international events, far-right extremism, and continued political scapegoating of muslims.” She added that islamophobia remains insufficiently addressed, despite its severity as a societal issue.
National trends and government response
While hate crimes are recorded differently by each police force, making a comprehensive national picture challenging to compile, the available data underscores a troubling trend. Merseyside, south yorkshire, and british transport police have also reported rises in hate crimes, albeit with smaller overall numbers.
In response, the UK government reiterated its commitment to tackling hate crime. A spokesperson stated, “We are determined to stamp out the toxic vitriol spread by a minority of people.”
Despite these assurances, campaigners argue that current measures are inadequate. Atta emphasised the need for more robust action, saying, “We are not seeing the action needed to tackle this problem effectively.”
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The broader impact on communities
Both jewish and muslim communities have expressed concerns about the long-term impact of hate crimes on their members’ safety and wellbeing. Dave rich highlighted the importance of collaboration between communities, law enforcement, and the crown prosecution Service (CPS) to reduce the prevalence of hate-fuelled incidents.
Meanwhile, atta called for greater political and societal accountability to address the root causes of islamophobia. “Far-right agitation and divisive political rhetoric only fuel these incidents,” she said.
Looking forward
As hate crime figures remain elevated, advocacy groups continue to push for more effective preventative measures and support systems for affected communities. The sharp rises following events like the southport stabbings and the gaza conflict highlight the interplay between global events and domestic tensions, underscoring the urgent need for a unified and comprehensive approach to combat hate crimes in the UK.
