Hate crimes against Metropolitan police up 56% in two years

The number of police officers and staff in London subjected to racist or religious hate crime has risen by more than 50% in two years, official figures show.

Metropolitan police data shows more than 700 of its staff were the subject to such hate crimes in 2016-17. The offences recorded included harassment, racially or religiously aggravated grievous bodily harm, as well as non-violent offences.

The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said the rise on 2014-15 figures was abhorrent.

“In this day and age, I just don’t get it,” Ken Marsh told the BBC, which obtained the figures after a freedom of information request. “But we’re doing everything we can to assist our colleagues in any way we can when it’s brought to our attention.”

The data showed that 667 officers were victims of racially or religiously motivated hate crimes in 2016-17, up from 428 in 2014-15. In addition, 54 police staff were victims of such crime in the same period, bringing the total to almost two offences a day, the BBC reported.

Leroy Logan, a former superintendent and founding member of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, said he was saddened by the findings.

“We’re talking about things that happened 20, 30 years ago but are coming back. When I was a constable, I’d get it internally and externally, especially from youngsters.

“One time, I was in an estate in Islington and I heard someone shout the N-word from the balcony. I think, unfortunately, we are not seeing public attitudes improving today,” he told the BBC.

Louise Haigh, the shadow policing minister, said: “There must be a zero tolerance approach to race or religious hate crime and it is vital officers are able to carry out their roles protecting the public.”

Scotland Yard said: “Police officers have a duty to record all crime that they become aware of, including when either they or their colleagues are victims.

“Any form of hate crime is unacceptable and our officers and staff should not be subject to this kind of abuse.

“As an employer, we encourage our officers and staff to report these incidents so we can give them the support they need and bring perpetrators to justice.”

The figures may include crimes against officers from other forces, but each recorded crime took place within the Met’s jurisdiction.