Merseyside has seen a worrying rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime since the start of the Israel and Gaza conflict.
New data obtained through the use of a freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed Merseyside Police recorded a sharp rise in hate crimes in the weeks following the outbreak of the conflict. The figures, which are taken for a month-long period starting from the beginning of the conflict on October 7 last year, showed anti-Semitic hate crimes were up by 400% compared to 2022.
The data shows there were four-recorded anti-Semitic hate crimes between October 7 and November 7 in both 2021 and 2022. But that number rises significantly to 20 in the same time period last year. Merseyside Police confirmed Islamophobic offences have also increased, from six in 2022 to 10 in 2023.
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Although worrying, the figures are significantly higher in other areas of the UK. In the same time period, Greater Manchester reported 74 anti-Semitic and 34 Islamophobic incidents. West Yorkshire Police also recorded 53 anti-Semitic and 49 Islamophobic hate incidents.
Merseyside Police Chief Superintendent Zoe Thornton, head of local policing for Liverpool, told the ECHO: "We take all reports of hate crime seriously because we know the devastating impact it has on victims, and targeted communities. Nationally there has been a significant rise in anti-Semitic hate crime and a rise in Islamophobic hate crime, which is believed to be linked to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine following the Hamas terror attack on October 7.
"Here on Merseyside we have seen rises in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime, although it has not been as significant as it has been in other parts of the country. Throughout the last three months we have been working closely with our Jewish and Islamic communities providing support and reassurance and that has been well received.
“Antisemitism and racial and faith-based discrimination will not be tolerated in any form across Merseyside and we remain steadfast in our approach to any reported offences and identifying those responsible."
Merseyside Police said most of the reported incidents have been related to graffiti, with one individual currently under investigation for a series of offences in Liverpool City Centre.
Chief Superintendent Thornton added: "Since the start of the conflict Merseyside Police has been chairing multi-agency meetings with the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, Community Safety Partnerships, Community Security Trust and the Faith Network. We are determined to support all our communities, especially the Jewish and Muslim communities at this time, and to provide reassurance around their safety.
"We are committed in tackling such crimes in our communities and we would strongly encourage all victims to come forward and report such incidents. If you experience any threatening behaviour or are worried about your safety, always contact the police."
The conflict in the Middle East started when Palestinian militant group Hamas, proscribed as terrorists by the UK government, launched an assault on Israel with hundreds of gunmen targeting communities near Gaza. Around 1,200 people were killed, and the Israeli military said over 200 people including women and children were taken to Gaza as hostages.
Since then, Israel has launched a series of air and artillery strikes as well as a ground offensive, with more than 21,000 killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Supplies of water, electricity, food and fuel are running low and the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees warned the strip had become a "hellhole" in the weeks after Israel's assault.
Pro-Palestine marches have been regularly held in towns and cities across the UK, with several – organised by members of Liverpool Friends of Palestine – taking place on Merseyside. The ECHO spoke with representatives of both the Jewish and Muslim communities in October to hear how both called for peace.
If you have information on any form of hate crime, you can contact Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook.You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
If, for any reason, you do not wish to report a hate crime to the police, the independent charity Stop Hate UK to run a 24/7 confidential helpline for all victims of hate crime on 0800 138 1625 or www.stophateuk.org. You can also download the Stop Hate UK reporting app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
If you’ve been affected by crime, Victim Care Merseyside can also help. For free, confidential advice and support, call Freephone 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm. As part of the Victim Care Merseyside service, the PCC also funds the Anthony Walker Foundation to deliver a specialist hate crime support service for victims of racial and religious hate crime. Alternatively, request support at www.victimcaremerseyside.org at any time.
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