Five racist hate crimes are reported every day in Sussex – new data reveals

Five racist offences are reported every day in Sussex, according to new data.
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Racist hate crimes have surged in the county in the last 10 years, an investigation by JPI Media’s Data Unit has uncovered.

In the year 2019 to 2020, 105.1 racist offences were recorded per 100,000 people to Sussex Police.

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And in total, 1,791 racist hate crimes have been reported in Sussex in this time.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in BrightonBlack Lives Matter (BLM) protest in Brighton
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in Brighton

That’s a 244 per cent rise since 2011/2012, when there were 520 cases.

Meanwhile it’s an 18 per rise in racist hate crimes since the year before (2018/19).

Sussex has been ranked 19 out of 41 police forces in England whose figures have been obtained by the JPI Media Data Unit.

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Superintendent Rachel Swinney, Sussex Police’s hate crime lead, said: “We acknowledge over the last few years, there has been an increase in reports of hate crime and that people will be concerned by this.

“What I would say is that we have worked extensively in this area to ensure that people feel able and comfortable to report incidents of hate crime to police.

“We encourage this – we want people to report incidents to us so we can respond effectively, identifying those responsible and supporting those affected.

“Our officers and staff are trained to deal sensitively and professionally with reports of hate crime.

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“They understand it can sometimes be difficult to explain what has happened, but they are there to help and support victims.

“There is no place for hate in Sussex. It’s not okay to be targeted because of who you are, or because of who people think you are. It is extremely damaging, creating fear and humiliation, and we are committed to making sure hate crime in any form is not tolerated in Sussex.”

The latest Home Office figures reveal more than 76,000 racist offences were committed across England and Wales in 2019/20 – the equivalent of 208 every day – with all of England and Wales’ 44 police forces seeing a rise since 2011/12.

The true number of crimes is expected to be higher as Greater Manchester Police was unable to submit its figures.

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The Home Office said improvements in police recording is one of the main reasons for the increase.

But independent race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust said there is an ‘overwhelming existence of systemic racism present in British society’.

West Yorkshire had the highest rate of racist offences across the two countries, with 262 per 100,000 people.

The UK Government said it is working with various community groups, charities, and schools to tackle racially and religiously motivated hate crime.

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Adam Almeida, research analyst at the Runnymede Trust, said the figures do not show the full picture as some people who experience racist abuse do not report it.

“What is occurring in Britain today mirrors what is happening globally, where incidences of racist crime correlate with the rise of the far-right, nationalism and white supremacy,” Mr Almeida said.

“We need to work to address the systemic root causes of racism that precipitates racist abuse at the individual level.”

Baroness Williams, Minister for Countering Extremism, said all forms of hate crime are ‘completely unacceptable’.

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She said, “The Government takes this issue very seriously which is why we published the hate crime action plan which has helped improve the police response to, and public awareness of, all forms of hate crime.

“We are working with community groups, charities and schools funding projects to tackle racially and religiously motivated hatred and we have also provided £3.2 million in funding to improve security at places of worship at risk from hate crime attacks for 2020/21.”