'˜We will not tolerate hate,' say Wakefield Council after 480 incidents reported

Last year, around 480 hate incidents were reported across the district, with more than 80 per cent relating to race or faith.

And nationally, police say there has been a 57 per cent increase in reported hate crime in the week since the EU referendum.

Coun Maureen Cummings, cabinet member for environment and communities, said: “Racism, xenophobia and other hate crimes will not be tolerated in this district and we are working to tackle all reported incidents.

“We are aware that hate crime is often under reported and we need to make sure that people know how to report it and that there is help available.

“If you are a victim or a witness, we urge you to report any hate crime including hateful speech, so that we and our partners can take appropriate action. I assure people that we take every incident seriously.”

The authority is working to increase awareness of how hate crime, which can include verbal and physical abuse motivated by prejudice or hate, can be reported.

And a resolution condemning hate crime will be tabled at the next meeting of the full council on July 13.

Hate incidents can be reported to the police, Stop Hate UK, and via the council website at www.wakefield.gov.uk/hatecrime