A freedom of information request has revealed that hate crimes, including hate crimes against Asians, remain at a high level in Greater Manchester.
The freedom of information request, which was made to Greater Manchester Police, shows there was a sharp rise in hate crimes in 2017, possibly due to the racism Brexit generated. There was also a sharp rise in 2021, which could be attributed to a rise in far-right extremism.
Many Asians in the UK have reported being harassed or abused because of their ethnicity since the Covid-19 pandemic started in China.
A Freedom of Information request to Greater Manchester Police revealed that there have been 1,008 reported hate crimes against Asians between 1 January 2020 and 21 November, 2022. Overall, there were 32,822 hate crimes in Greater Manchester between 1 January 2020 and 5 December 2022.
PC David Willetts of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) told Mancunian Matters: “GMP has a zero tolerance of hate crime and has done a lot of work in partnership with Manchester City Centre and other partnership agencies to tackle hate crime.
“Our local policing teams work within the communities including several Asian communities across the force to encourage reporting, this helps to strengthen links between these communities and the police.”
GMP work closely with external partners to tackle hate and strengthen links between the police and the communities they serve. These range from Greater Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Crown Prosecutions Services, Victim Services, Community Safety Trust, Service Providers and faith/belief groups.
GMP encourage victims of hate crimes to come forward and report it not only so they can receive the support they need, but so that those responsible do not go unchallenged.
For those who feel unable to report a hate crime directly to the police, GMP has created 53 third party reporting centres.
PC Willetts said: ‘GMP along with Manchester City Council have worked closely in launching additional third-party reporting centres for the public to access. These centres have been added to the existing centres bringing the total to 53 centres and we have aimed to open these centres to reach diverse groups that are under reporting incidents of hate. These centres give the public a convenient place to report incidents of hate without having to directly call the police or attend a station, these centres can also signpost victims to the relevant support if needed.’
A free confidential UK helpline has been launched called ‘On Your Side’, offering support and advice to East and South-East Asian victims of hate crimes or racism.
Andy Fearn, an On Your Side project manager, said the majority of hate crimes reported are verbal abuse and harassment.
He told Mancunian Matters: “A lot of people don’t feel comfortable going to the police as the police are a symbol of oppression. It is what’s right for the individual”.
PC Willetts added: “As a force, GMP is consistently the highest performing force in the Northwest for successful conviction rates for hate cases that reach court. I hope that fact gives victims the confidence to come forward, knowing that they will be taken seriously and treated with respect.”
“No hate crime is acceptable. We all have a right to live without fear, hostility, and intimidation from others because of who we are. If you have been a victim of hate crime, support is available.”
Photo by Kareem Hayes on Unsplash
