Hate has no place in our borough

Richmond upon Thames is the safest borough in London, and I want to see it stay that way. Hate has no place in our borough. 

To mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, we are working with community partners, police, and faith leaders, like Multi-Cultural Richmond, to make sure our residents and visitors are safe from crimes fuelled by hate. 

Hate crimes are defined as crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s perceived: 

• Race or ethnicity 
• Religion or belief 
• Disability 
• Sexual orientation 
• Gender identity 

As a borough of sanctuary, we welcome and empower those who seek refuge in Richmond. The safety of all our residents remains our top priority, and we will continue to work closely with our partners and the community to tackle hate crime and keep our communities safe. 

I want to remind people of the importance of reporting hate crime if they witness it. No matter how small you think an incident might be, it is important to recognise it, report it, and stop it. 

If you are the victim, or witness of a hate crime, here are some ways you can report it: 

• If it is an emergency, and a crime is in progress, call 999 immediately 
• For non-emergencies, call 101 
• Report crimes online via the Metropolitan Police website 
• Anonymously report a crime to the police through CrimeStoppers 
• Report hate crime and find additional advice and support at Stop Hate UK 
• Find out more about Hate Crime and Hate Crime Awareness Week 2025 

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