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| Police get tough on religious
hate crimes |
POLICE have stepped up patrols to sites that they think are vulnerable
to hate crime following the London bombings.
Figures show that Camden has been hit by 67 race or faith hate crimes
since the July 7 strikes.
The broad categories can mean anything from graffiti on a place
of worship to an attack in the street. Police are also dealing with
spitting in the streets, name-calling and damage to property.
A police spokesman said last night (Wednesday) that they are committing
manpower to dealing with incidents.
Extra measures include a watch on mosques in the south of the borough
and readying a 24-hour response team.
Before schools broke up for the summer holidays, wardens were also
accompanying Muslim women as they walked their children to lessons.
But police are worried that not all hate crime is being reported
and have urged victims to get in touch.
A 24-hour hate crime hotline, run by Camden Council, should be functioning
by Monday.
Community officers have told residents that they can report incidents
through a “third party” system in which they don’t
have to speak directly to police. Reporting bases have been set
up at a series of locations, including Age Concern in King’s
Cross, Café Basil Social club in Somers Town, the Castlehaven
Community Centre in Kentish Town and Haverstock School in Chalk
Farm.
A Camden police spokesman said: “We recognise that some people
do not want to talk to the police. Because of this a large number
of race crimes go unreported.
“Whilst there have been small peaks in faith hate crime reported
to the Met police following July 7 and July 21 monthly figures for
July for race and faith crime remain relatively low and we are reassured
that current reporting has now broadly returned to pre July 7 levels.” |
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