‘Hate crime’ in Lincolnshire has risen by 22 per cent in last five years. (Lincs Echo 23.1.12)
Tuesday, 24th January 2012The number of racially or religiously aggravated offences reported to Lincolnshire Police has increased by 22 per cent in the last five years. There were 175 offences reported in the 2010 to 2011 financial year, compared with 143 in 2006 to 2007, according to Ministry of Justice figures. The number of racist incidents – not necessarily crimes – also increased by 12 per cent, from 247 to 277.
Despite this, Lincolnshire Police says the county has one of the lowest levels of hate crime in England and Wales.
Assistant chief constable Keith Smy said officer training and public confidence in the police could explain the increase. "A higher number of recorded crimes could be down to increased reporting, better recognition of hate crime and more accurate recording rather than an actual increase in occurrences," he said.
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Mr Smy suggested the county's changing demographics and increase in migrant workers could also have influenced the figures. The most common crimes reported were racially motivated criminal damage, verbal abuse and minor assaults. Mr Smy said while the offences were of a "less serious type" they were treated "very seriously".
Dr Tanweer Ahmed, a trustee of the Islamic Association of Lincoln, said: "I would agree with the police. "In Lincoln we have built a good relationship with the police and other groups, especially over the last three or four years. "The police are very proactive and the City of Lincoln Council is also helping to build these relationships. "It's very important. If we didn't address it, it could become a serious issue. "I'm confident that if we continue to do this and increase understanding of each other it will reduce the crime rate. "There are sometimes things taking place, but I don't see there are major problems in Lincoln."
Munir Zafar, 18, originally from Afghanistan, suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone when a group attacked him in Monks Road, Lincoln, in 2010. He believes the assault was racially motivated but says he experiences less racism than when his family first moved to the county three years ago. The police recorded the incident as racially aggravated GBH. Three people were arrested, bailed and no one was charged.
"I think it's better than before because there are a lot more Asian people in the city now," he said."It's more normal. When I first came people would look at me in the street and argue with me over nothing. I was always thinking people might swear at me or want to start a fight." Mr Zafar said he last experienced verbal abuse in the street around four months ago.
Nationally, racist incidents decreased by 18 per cent over the five-year period. There were 51,187 incidents reported across England and Wales in the year ending March 2011. The Ministry of Justice figures were released in its report, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2010, in October 2011
Visit. this website for full details http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/race.htm or download the full report below.
