Committee to probe why there’s been no rise in hate crime prosecutions

A committee of MPs is investigating why there has been no increase in the number of hate crime prosecutions.

The cross-party Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will grill senior police officers, prosecutors and anti-Semitism experts on Wednesday, after efforts by Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn.

The parliamentarians will consider the reporting of hate crimes, victim support, police decision-making up to and including charges, and the Crown Prosecution Service’s framework for determining whether the hate crime is considered by a court.

“I am proud to be a member of the WEC, not least because my diverse constituency is home to a thriving Jewish community,” said Siddiq, who said she had spent “some time” pushing for the meeting.

“Unfortunately, there seems to be a clear disparity between the nationwide trend of increased anti-Semitism and the number of related prosecutions… I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to speak with experts to learn more.”

Addressing the MPs will be Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose of the Metropolitan Police, together with Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, the Met’s hate crime lead, and Baljit Ubhey, director of prosecution policy and inclusion at the Crown Prosecution Service.

Also giving evidence will be the CST’s Dave Rich, Danny Stone of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, Dr Loretta Trickett from Nottingham Law School, and Laura Marks, who co-chairs the Association of Jewish Women’s Organisations.