Statement on recent disorder across the country

Response to recent disorder across the country, in the aftermath of three children being killed in Southport on 29 July:  

Reporting hate crime

If you are affected by hate crime or harassment, don’t suffer in silence.

If you experience hate crime you can:

• report it to the police
  • if you or someone else are in immediate danger call 999
  • if not you can report by phone on 101, in person at a police station
• if you are uncomfortable with reporting to the police, you can report to StopHateUK (available 24 hours a day) by:
  • tel 0800 138 1625
  • chatting with an online operator
  • emailing talk@stophateuk.org
  • texting 07717 989 025
  • text relay for people who are deaf, or have speech or hearing impairments: 18001 0800 138 1625
  • completing a form on the Stop Hate website
  • post: PO Box 851, Leeds  LS1 9QS
  • accessing their British Sign Language service

In Southport on Monday 29 July, three children attending a summer dance class tragically lost their lives, along with a number of other children and adults suffering serious injuries as a result of a senseless and vicious attack. We have all been affected by this horrendous incident and share our deep sympathy for the families and friends of the victims as well as the wider community.

These events were made all the more distressing when a peaceful vigil was disrupted by violence and the targeting of a local Mosque. Since then we have seen further disorder, Islamophobia and racist intimidation across the country.

In Hackney, we celebrate communities of different faiths and backgrounds, and take pride that we live peacefully side by side. 

We are committed to visiting local faith communities in Hackney to discuss any concerns, and conducting patrols around the borough to provide a visible and reassuring presence.

We will continue to do everything we can with our communities, the police and partners to tackle Islamophobia and all forms of hate crime.  

Hackney is no place for hate.

Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, and Dawn Carter-McDonald, Chief Executive