Post-Brexit hate crimes still high in UK

Hate crime incidents logged by British police in the wake of Brexit surged in the second half of July, nearly a month after the EU referendum vote, and still remains at significantly higher levels than a year ago, according to latest statistics.
The latest set of figures released by the UK's National Police Chiefs' Council on Wednesday show a 49 per cent rise in incidents to 1,863 in the last week in July, when compared with the previous year. The week after saw a record 58 per cent increase in logged incidents to 1,787.
The spike links directly to Britain's vote in favour of an exit from the European Union (EU) in the June 23 referendum.

"We have seen continued decreases in reports of hate crimes to forces and these reports have now returned to formerly seen levels for 2016. For this reason, we will return to our previous reporting procedures and will no longer be requiring weekly updates from forces," Mark Hamilton, the NPCC lead for hate crime, told the 'Guardian'.
"This doesn't mean that hate crime is no longer a priority. We know that divisions still exist in our society and that tensions could rise again. Police forces will continue with their robust response and we will react swiftly to any future signs of tension," he said.

Previously published official figures had revealed that there had been a 46 per cent spike in reports of hate crime to the police in the week immediately after the referendum.

The most recent weekly data shows that the level of hate crime is 16 per cent higher than over a similar period last year, with 1,384 incidents reported in the third week of August, the last set of figures available.
UK home secretary Amber Rudd told MPs on the House of Commons' Home Affairs Select Committee on Wednesday that it indicated the level was on a downward spiral.
"There was a spike in crime after 23 June. I am pleased to say it has now gone back to levels comparable to last year. We are watching it carefully. We will continue to combat hate crime however we can," she told MPs.