HATE crime in Warwickshire has dropped slightly since the EU referendum – despite a five-fold national rise.
Police received five reports of racist incidents across the county in the six days after the country voted to leave the EU – one less than the previous week.
On Wednesday, outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament additional measures would be put in place to “drive appalling hate crimes out of Britain” after the National Police Chiefs Council logged 331 such incidents since the vote – 268 more than the weekly average.
Despite the county bucking the national trend, Warwickshire Police’s Chief Constable reaffirmed a commitment to tackling hate crime.
Martin Jelley said: “We have not seen an increase in reports of racially aggravated incidents in Warwickshire.
“However, we will monitor the situation and our Safer Neighbourhood Teams are continuing their valuable local engagement work with those communities who do feel vulnerable.
“Hate crime is not tolerated in Warwickshire and we will do everything within our power to ensure that offenders are dealt with appropriately. All reports to us are thoroughly investigated and the care and support of victims is at the heart of all that we do.”
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said the vast majority of communities in the county were “tolerant and respectful of each other”.
He added: “Hate crime in all its forms is unacceptable.
“It is understandable that communities may be feeling concerned after seeing reports of vile and unacceptable behaviour from elsewhere but I am reassured that that Warwickshire Police will deal quickly and robustly with anyone responsible for any such incidents here.
“While we await details of the new measures announced by the Prime Minister, I welcome the added determination being shown to ensure that the message that hate crimes will not be tolerated in any form is heard loudly and clearly.
“I would urge anyone who feels as though they have been a victim or has witnessed an incident to report it so that action can be taken.”
Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday (June 29), Mr Cameron said new plans for tackling hate crime would be published soon, including new guidance to prosecutors, and extra funding for security at potentially vulnerable institutions and community organisations.
Among the five incidents recorded by Warwickshire Police in the last week was a report of a man shouting racist abuse on Corporation Street in Rugby on Sunday (June 26) afternoon.
On Friday (June 24) at 1.30am, police responded to a report of racist abuse on Victoria Terrace in Leamington. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and possession of a class B drug. He was bailed to return to the police station on July 10.
And at 7.45pm on Tuesday (June 28), a member of the public reported racist abuse on Rotherfield Close in Leamington.
Hate crimes can be reported by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency, or online at www.report-it.org.uk.
