Hate Crime
Councils are prioritising hate crime in new strategies, enhancing awareness and reporting, and addressing increased incidents.
Barking and Dagenham Council adopted its Community Safety Partnership Strategy in September 2026, identifying hate crime as a priority area. In the same month, Barnet Council launched a new Community Protection Team and is enhancing awareness and reporting of hate crime with central government funding. Enfield Council also adopted its 'Delivering for Enfield' strategic plan in September 2026, which includes a 'Safer Enfield' outcome.
Hammersmith and Fulham's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit reported a 170% increase in hate crime and hate incident cases in July 2026. Bexley Council adopted a new community safety strategy in July 2026, committing to tackling hate crime through prevention and intervention. Earlier, in November 2025, Enfield's Equalities Board reported a rise in faith-based hate crime, despite an overall decrease in offences.
Discussions on community safety, which includes hate crime, are ongoing. Waltham Forest's Communities and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee discussed community safety in September 2026, as did Greenwich's Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel and Kingston upon Thames' South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee. Hate crime refers to criminal acts motivated by prejudice against a particular group.
Key facts
- Barking and Dagenham Council adopted its Community Safety Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030 in September 2026, listing hate crime as a priority. Source
- Barnet Council is enhancing hate crime awareness and reporting with central government funding, as discussed by the Safer Communities Partnership Board in September 2026. Source
- Hammersmith and Fulham's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit reported a 170% increase in hate crime and hate incident cases in July 2026. Source
- Bexley Council adopted a new community safety strategy in July 2026, committing to tackling hate crime. Source
- Enfield's Equalities Board reported a rise in faith-based hate crime in the twelve months leading up to November 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.