Policing hate crime in London

Since the bomb attacks that occurred in London on July 7, 2005, hate and faith-hate crimes and other incidents have become a major focus of the police and government in the United Kingdom. This article presents some of the research that has taken place on the nature and policing of hate crime over the past 5 years in the London Metropolitan Police Service. Focusing in particular on recent research into anti-Semitism where a new typology of incidents has been developed, the article reveals that the majority of hate incidents reported to the police in London are perpetrated by people with whom victims come into contact in their daily lives, rather than predominantly by strangers or extremists. This provides the police with a number of challenges for both strategic thinking and operational practice. It also highlights the continual need for close liaison and consultation with minority communities and vulnerable groups within London.