SpeakersMessage

The Speaker of Hackney will be talking to all of Hackney’s residents through the Council’s borough-wide, monthly magazine ‘Love Hackney’, which is out next week. 

In it, she addresses the overwhelming tragedies of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, and how the Council is working with the police to help keep everyone - and especially those most vulnerable in the borough - safe and secure. 

The Speaker is an apolitical post. This means it doesn’t represent any political party. The current Speaker is Cllr Anya Sizer. 

This is what she says: “I want to acknowledge the ongoing catastrophe in Israel and Gaza. I am horrified by the barbarity of actions and loss of innocent life. 

"I know from my role as the Speaker of Hackney that this is being felt with shock, terror and grief by those with friends, family and connections in Israel and Gaza. 

“I know residents of all persuasions will be feeling powerless, scared and uncertain here in Hackney too. The Council’s number one priority at this time is to keep all of our residents safe. 

"You may have heard about the deeply shocking antisemitic vandalism of Jewish schools in Stamford Hill last week. The Council has been working closely with the schools to help with the clear-up, and provide reassurance. 

“I also know there has been a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime in London more widely, that’s why I want to explicitly say:

“Antisemitism will not be tolerated. 

“Islamophobia will not be tolerated.

“Hate will not be tolerated. 

“I’d like to assure you of the actions being undertaken by the Council over the past fortnight to keep residents - and especially our most vulnerable communities safe:

“We have: 

• Increased the number of council enforcement patrols and deployed the council’s mobile CCTV van into vulnerable communities
• Met with the borough commander and continue to work closely with the police to support their work 
• Co-hosted, with the police, community stalls around the borough as part of national hate crime awareness week
• Responded swiftly to hate crime and ASB 
• Written to faith leaders to express our support 
• Reached out to our Jewish and Muslim community leaders in particular to reiterate the work we’re undertaking with the police to keep the community safe
• Written to all schools and education settings, including faith schools, and have been offering ongoing security liaison, support, resource and guidance.

“The Council’s dialogue with communities and faith leaders remains ongoing. 

“The Council is - and remains - clear: there is no place for hate in Hackney. And any attempt to carry out or provoke abuse or violence in Hackney will be met with immediate action.”