Race hate crimes in the UK have risen sharply following the EU referendum, according to figures released by the BTP. There have been 119 recorded incidents, including serious allegations of racist abuse and attacks at stations — equivalent to eight attacks a day.
We take hate crime very seriously. If you experience or witness hate crime, report it. #TextBTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40.
— BTP (@BTP) 22 August 2016
The number of alleged race hate offences logged by the force between June 24 and July 7 amounts to a 57 percent increase compared with the previous two weeks — and an even sharper rise of 78 percent on the equivalent period last year.
There were 11 alleged racist incidents recorded on the June 25, the day after the EU referendum vote.
Bruce Williamson, of campaign group Rail Future, discussed the importance of passengers being able to enter a station or board a train without fear of abuse.
"These latest figures are very worrying, and they highlight the continuing need for staff presence at stations and on board trains," Mr. Williamson said.
Most of the reported incidents took place in London and many occurred on the underground. Racist graffiti appeared at Golders Green tube station and a staff member at Notting Hill Gate station was also subjected to racist behavior.
It is not just staff and customers, who have been subjected to racist abuse. Police officers at Kings Cross and Victoria station have also fell victim to racist taunts.
#Brexit is just one moment in a far longer trajectory of rising xenophobia and racism https://t.co/bWZUOY3ze8 pic.twitter.com/8ALsHsNiPC
— openDemocracy (@openDemocracy) 19 August 2016
BTP have said that racist abuse is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated on any form of public transport. BTP police officers have said they plan to implement various plans to try and overcome what has happened and to attempt to make the transport system safer and better for all passengers.
Chris Horton Superinterdent of the BTP, said that this type of abuse is completely wrong.
"Hate crime is totally unacceptable and has no place in society or on the rail network." Mr. Horton said in a recent interview.
A third of Londoners witnessed a race hate crime in the past year — says new study part of #HolocaustMemorialDay https://t.co/DY1iITTTyu
— London Live (@LondonLive) 27 January 2016
This is not the first time that racist behavior has been reported after the EU referendum vote. It was just days after the result that a Polish community center in Hammersmith was vandalized and racist graffiti was sprayed on the building. There have been several other racist incidents reported and only recently, Demos, Britain's leading independent think tank said that they had seen a rise in Islamaphobic tweets shortly after Britain voted to leave the EU.
