FE Week have written an article about the importance of tackling hate crime in colleges. They report that hate crime has almost tripled in the past four years with 460 offences recorded in colleges. The most common form of hate crime reported was racism.

“Last month, Home Office minister for countering extremism Susan Williams told the home affairs select committee that hate crime directed towards South and East Asian communities had increased by 21 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic. Police have also estimated a threefold increase in such incidents against Chinese people between January and March 2020, compared to the previous two years.”

The article discusses the importance of tackling the root causes of hate crime, educating the perpetrators, providing resources, having a zero bullying policy and being aware of what is going on in the world.

“Mike Ainsworth, director of London services at Stop Hate UK, a national organisation that supports education providers through its helpline and training services, said their work has shown that racism, homophobia, religious intolerance and disability hate “remain problems in places of further education”.

He added that the number of cases reported are a “significant underestimate”, with many students (particularly foreign nationals, those with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community) reluctant to come forward.”

You can read the blog here.