During National Hate Crime Awareness Week from October 10, Transport for London (TfL) has raised the point that hate crime an element in five per cent of all reported crimes on London’s public transport network. Hence TfL is working with British Transport Police (BTP), Metropolitan Police and City of London Police (CoLP) to host a series of joint engagement events.
More than 50 events are taking place at transport hubs across London this week where officers will speak to the public, about hate crimes which may happen on the basis of someone’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. They are being told that if anyone witnesses, or is victim to any sort of hate crime, they can report it, and it will be taken seriously and investigated.
TfL and police will be using the #WeStandTogether message to reassure the millions of people who use London’s public transport each day that travelling across the Capital is safe and welcoming for all.
The campaign also provides people with practical information about what to do should they ever witness, or fall victim to, any form of hate crime. Since June, the transport police have spoken to more than 5,000 people about whether they’ve seen or experienced any form of hate crime and to spread the message that it will not be tolerated.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘London today is more diverse than ever and I am incredibly proud that we don’t just accept our differences, but celebrate them. There is simply no place in our capital for hate crimes of any form, and we will not tolerate them. We must stand together, and anyone who witnesses or experiences abusive behaviour should report it to the police immediately.’
And Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Enforcement and On-street Operations, said: ‘We stand united with our policing partners to send a strong message that hate crime of any form is not tolerated on London’s transport network. Incidents of hate crime on our network are low, but we know there are some people who feel worried about becoming a victim or made to feel uncomfortable because of who they are. By speaking to communities and people individually we want them to know that all reports- be it for offensive language or physical violence – will be taken seriously and that hate crime has no place on our services.’
The Met Police admit an increase in hate crime in all its forms in recent months in London; and a significant increase in anti-Semitic and Islamaphobic offences.
How to report
People can report an incident to TfL discreetly by texting 61016 from a mobile phone, or can call 0800 40 50 40. People can report seeing or experiencing a hate crime by texting 61016 from a mobile phone (for Tube and rail incidents) or by calling 101. In an emergency they should call 999.
For anyone who feels uncomfortable speaking to the police about a Hate Crime incident, they can visit report-it.org.uk where reports can be submitted that are anonymous.
Anti-Muslim incidents can also be reported at: Tell MAMA on 0800 456 1226, WhatsApp 0734 184 6086 or at tellmamauk.org.
For anti-Semitic incidents, CST (Community Safety Trust) can be called on 0208 457 9999 or reported at www.cst.org.uk.
For the campaign visit http://www.stophateuk.org/hate-crime-awareness-week/.
