Sharp rise in hate crimes in UK around Brexit vote

More than 3,000 hate crimes and race-related incidents were reported to British police within a fortnight before and after Britain's referendum to leave the European Union.
The incidents from June 16-30 this year marks a 42 per cent increase on the same period in 2015, according to figures released by the UK's National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
The peak of the offences were on June 25, a day after the results of the referendum in favour of Brexit, when 289 offences occurred across the UK.
"The police service has no tolerance for this type of abuse but we need to be made aware that these crimes are taking place so that we can investigate," said Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton.

UK police forces were asked to disclose weekly numbers after an increase in reports to the True Vision website, a police-funded site with information about hate crime.
True Vision defines hate crimes as offences where a victim is targeted because of criteria including their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

In total, there were 3,076 reported hate crimes and incidents in the second half of June, compared to 2,161 in the same period in 2015 - an increase of 915.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said the main type of offence reported over the fortnight was "violence against the person", which includes harassment and common assault, as well as verbal abuse, spitting and "barging".

The second and third most prevalent incidents were public order offences and criminal damage.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said the average number of hate crimes reported each day in London had risen 52 per cent from 44 before the referendum to 67.
A total of 599 race hate crimes were reported to the Metropolitan Police between June 24 and July 2.
"I simply will not tolerate hate crimes of any form, anywhere in London. We must stand together and anyone who sees or is targeted by abusive behaviour should report it to the police immediately," London mayor Sadiq Khan said at the launch of #WeStandTogether campaign.

"I am proud of the incredible diversity of our city and nowhere is that more evident than on trains and buses. They are a melting pot of different cultures and you will hear languages originating from every corner of our planet," he said.
Met police will speak with the public and urge witnesses or victims of hate crime on public transport to come forward as part of the campaign.