Over the last 12 months, racist and religious hate crime has risen by 40 per cent throughout Eastlondonlines boroughs. According to the Metropolitan Police definition, a hate crime is any incident that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be racist, homophobic, transphobic, or due to a person’s religion, belief, gender, identity or disability. All these forms of hate are on display in our boroughs. Indeed, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and racism are deeply entrenched, and have been for generations, but now the problem is worsening.  

Today, Eastlondonlines launches its news series, #HatefulLondon. Over the next few days, we will report on the concerning trends in hate crime, to encourage more sustained and determined efforts to deal with the crisis, and we will examine what is being done to combat it – often, as will become evident, the work of community groups is vital – and what more needs to be done.  

Day 1 

‘Covid-19 hate crimes continue against East Asians’ 

As the coronavirus pandemic engulfs modern society, we look at how it is exacerbating the prevalence of racist abuse directed towards East Asians within our communities.  

‘Hate crime is increasing – it is time to fight back‘

How hateful is your borough? This article breaks down the latest trends in hate crime, which is rising at unprecedented levels.  

‘Trains, trams – and racism: how East Croydon station became unsafe for minorities’ 

We reveal how East Croydon Railway Station ranks high, nationally, as one of the worst stations for hate crime.  

Day 2  

‘Are those in power doing enough to combat hate crime?’ 

As we researched this series, we were presented with a number of avoidable issues; issues that prevent ordinary people from engaging with solving the problem. 

‘Rabbi Herschel Gluck: “We are not here to be vigilantes; we are here for justice” 

Whilst hate crime is on the rise, the Stamford Hill Shomrim is assisting the police in tackling hate crime within our communities. We speak to Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, the organisation’s president, at his Hackney home.  

‘Fighting Back: East London’s history of racism’  

East London has a proud reputation of standing up to those committing hateful acts of prejudice, and showing them that hatred will not be tolerated. We look back at those moments.  

Follow the hashtag #HatefulLondon on Twitter to keep up to date.