Plans to tackle hate crime in London released
The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has released plans for tackling hate crime in London.
Reports of transphobic hate crime rose by 86.2% and homophobic hate crime by 26.8% since 2012. It is unclear whether this is due to more people feeling able to report, or an actual increase in crime. Disability, race and religious hate crime reports also rose slightly.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh unveiled a range of mesaures to help reduce hate crime and encourage more people to report it. These include an app designed to help people report online hate crime, enhanced training for the Met Police, Crown Prosecution Service and other criminal justice agencies, and an annual survey of victims of hate crime.
Mr Greenhalgh said “London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and one of the safest with crime falling across the capital. However far too often people become targets of hate simply because of who they are or what they look like.
The Mayor and I are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms, online and in person. This strategy, supported by the Met, the criminal justice system and partners across the board sets out how we plan to do just that and ensure that everyone in London is free to live without fear.”
