Responding to the review’s concerning findings, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead on hate crime, said addressing the growing issue is a priority for police.
“Hate crime has been a priority for the police for many years and our response is amongst the best in the world. HMICFRS's recommendations will help us to address inconsistencies around the country and provide a more effective response to victims,” Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has issued a warning police forces of a further surge in hate crime in Britain after Brexit, The Independent reported on Thursday.
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The comprehensive review of police forces’ performance in tackling hate crime by HMICFRS found their response to be “not good enough” in almost half of cases reviewed.
Noting that hate crime has risen sharply after the murder of Lee Rigby in 2013, the Brexit referendum, and last year’s London bridge terror attack, HMICFRS said there is a “real possibility” of this trend continuing after the UK withdraws from the EU.
“There is a real possibility that there will be a similar increase in reports in 2019 if, as is anticipated by the government, the United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union. Police forces should prepare for this eventuality and make sure that the recommendations in this report are used in the future to improve the police response to hate crime victims."
Critics have warned that unless police can get a grip on the issue now, hate crime risks spiraling out of control, especially as future attacks or political developments flare up tensions.
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