Court crackdown pledged to stem post-Brexit hate crime surge

Getting tough: director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders
Glenn Copus
WEST END FINAL

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England's top prosecutor today signalled that more people spewing out hate-filled attacks will be brought to court following a surge in such cases after the Brexit vote.

Quizzed on the rate of hate crime offenders being charged, director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We would like to see it higher because I do think that these cases are not reported enough.”

Prosecutions for these offences, she said, were already going up which suggested some victims were more “confident” of coming forward.

However, she added that new documents would be released later this year to explain to the public what is a hate crime and to encourage people to tell police about such abusive behaviour.

Tougher sentences were also be issued by the courts for offenders whose crimes involved racial or religious prejudice, she stressed.

The police watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, is to assess how forces are responding to the recent spike in hate crimes.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd also announced that levels of anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist bullying in schools will be examined under the Government’s hate crime action plan.

Teachers and parents will be encouraged to report incidents to the police and steps taken to prevent such offences on public transport.

The moves come after police figures indicated that young people were the victims of 10 per cent of faith hate crime and eight per cent of race hate crime for the three-week period between June 16 and July 7.

A £2.4 million fund will also be set up for security measures and equipment at synagogues, mosques, churches and other places of worship that need increased protection.

Ms Rudd said: “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.

“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.”

A spate of reports after the EU referendum sparked fears of a new wave of xenophobic and racial abuse.

Figures released last week 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. Abusive messages have also been put on Twitter and other social media.

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