A London Assembly member of British-Indian origin has recently put forth a motion aimed at addressing the issue of anti-Hindu hate crimes. Krupesh Hirani, who serves as a representative in the London Assembly, which deals with matters concerning the residents of London as part of the Greater London Authority under the Mayor of London's jurisdiction, presented the motion in response to the escalating occurrences of anti-Hindu hate. His motion, which was tabled and unanimously approved on Thursday, urges the Metropolitan Police to collaborate with local Hindu communities to enhance the reporting of hate crimes directed at Hindus.
In his address to the assembly, Hirani emphasized the need to combat "Hinduphobia" and stated that this form of hatred has no place in London or beyond. He expressed his concerns over the significant increase in hate crimes against the Hindu community over the past year. Hirani pointed out that Hindus are the second most likely religious group to experience religiously motivated hate crimes. However, these incidents are not accurately reflected in police data. Consequently, he called for improved record-keeping and more effective responses from law enforcement agencies. The unanimous support from the London Assembly underscores the importance of holding the Metropolitan Police accountable for ensuring that the Hindu community's confidence in reporting hate crimes is strengthened.
Hirani cited data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which indicates that Hindus are the second most likely religious group to fall victim to religiously motivated hate crimes. His motion specifies, "This assembly calls for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to work with local Hindu communities to encourage confidence in reporting Hindu hate crimes." Furthermore, it urges the Metropolitan Police to provide a detailed breakdown of hate crimes by religion on the Crime Dashboard.
Recent statistics from the UK Home Office reveal that during the year 2022-2023, there were 291 reported hate crimes against Hindus, representing an increase compared to the previous year's 161 recorded incidents. The motion highlights that despite the relatively low number of recorded hate crimes, Hindus ranked as the second most likely religious group to have experienced religiously motivated hate crimes in 2022, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. This data suggests that hate crimes against Hindus are not being accurately documented by police services.
Hirani's motion coincided with the celebration of Diwali and commended Mayor Sadiq Khan's efforts to celebrate London's diverse communities. It recognized the "Diwali on the Square" annual event at Trafalgar Square, where hundreds of people came together to enjoy dance performances, music, theatrical displays, and Indian street food stalls, celebrating the festival of lights in the iconic London square.
