Nadine Osman
Avon and Somerset Police report a sharp rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes, with incidents doubling over the past year. Between 2022 and 2023, Avon and Somerset recorded 35 anti-Muslim incidents. This figure has more than doubled to 76 for the same period in 2023-24.
Stand Up Against Racism and Inequality (SARI), a Bristol-based organisation assisting hate crime victims, reports that 33 per cent of its clients last year were Muslim. This is strikingly disproportionate, given that Muslims account for only 6-7 per cent of Bristol’s population and less than 0.5 per cent in many rural areas served by SARI.
Alex Raikes, SARI’s CEO, expressed concern over the distressing nature of recent reports, “We’ve seen a high level of distressing reports of anti-Muslim hate coming in since the tragic killings in Southport. These include hijabs being ripped off, children being verbally abused and threatened, and people being physically attacked, some sustaining serious injuries.”
Incidents have occurred in various settings, including the bustling streets of Bristol, the historic areas of Bath, and rural towns such as Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, and Bridgwater. “Imagine explaining to your child that they are being targeted because someone hates them for their faith,” Raikes added.
She also criticised certain media outlets and politicians for perpetuating Islamophobia: “Islamophobia thrives on misinformation, fear, and prejudice. Unfortunately, certain sections of the media and politicians stoke this, painting Islam as a threat. This is simply not the case.”
Raikes urged victims to come forward, “You don’t have to report incidents to the police to get support from SARI—that is your choice. Most importantly, you don’t have to suffer in silence.”
Nationally, anti-Muslim hate crimes have risen by 13 per cent this year, according to Home Office data. Organisations like Tell MAMA report a surge in incidents following the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli actions in Gaza, where many of the victims are Muslim.
Chief Inspector Karen Corrigan, Avon and Somerset Police’s lead on hate crime, emphasised the importance of reporting, “There is no place for any form of hate crime in society. We encourage people to report incidents to allow us to carry out thorough investigations.”
The force recorded 2,874 hate crime reports in the past year, with anti-Muslim hate crimes constituting 2.6 per cent of cases. Corrigan acknowledged that hate crimes are often under-reported but found the increase in reports encouraging, as it reflects growing trust in police systems.
Efforts to combat hate crime include educational outreach in schools and youth clubs, direct communication with community leaders, and internal support for Muslim officers through the newly established Association of Muslim Police for Avon and Somerset.
Corrigan concluded, “Every hate crime has a massive impact on the victim and the wider community, which is why we urge people to report incidents. Whether through 999, 101, or our website, help is available.”
