The capital is at risk of a US-style race relations crisis if authorities fail to act to protect victims of a surge in hate crime in London, a leading campaigner warns today.
John Azah, a member of the Met’s Independent Advisory Group, says he fears police no longer have the resources to investigate or help victims of hate crimes.
He said: “I am not sure that there are adequate mechanisms in place to help victims because there are few aid groups around. I am not confident about who is taking responsibility for these crimes.”
Mr Azah spoke out as the Met said it had made 400 arrests for suspected hate crimes following the EU referendum result. Since the Brexit result on June 24 police say they have been dealing with 57 to 78 offences a day, compared to 25 to 50 offences before the vote.
The Government should “re-invest” in race equality or risk tensions along the lines of the crisis in the United States, said Mr Azah, who also advises the Ministry of Justice. He added: “I think we are still a tolerant society compared to America. I do not think we will get to the situation they have in America with the shootings but this is where they started from. If it is left untackled God knows where it will go.If people do not have access to support they are left on their own with a feeling of helplessness and that there is nothing they can do. They could resort to desperate measures.”
Mr Azah said groups like race equality councils had been wound down because of funding cuts, and staffing in the Met’s Community Safety Units, which tackle race hate offences, was “thin on the ground.”
A new hate crime action plan is set to be published by the Home Office, urging tougher sentences, and with a fund to protect places of worship.
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