Labour Research March 2016

Equality news

Race hate crimes


The RMT rail union has demanded an end to staff cuts in response to a massive increase in race hate crimes on Britain’s transport services.


According to the union, race hate crime levels on British transport services have increased by 36% since 2011 with even bigger increases in specific areas of racially and religiously motivated crime. 


RMT general secretary Mick Cash described the figures as “truly shocking” and said that they “match up with the reports that RMT members are feeding back to the union from the sharp end”. And he said that the figures coincide with the drive to reduce staff on trains and at stations “in the search for cuts and increased profits”.


He added: “Despite union warnings that those cuts would turn our transport services into a playground for thugs, criminals and racists we have been ignored and the consequences are now laid bare.” 


www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/27/race-hate-crimes-uk-railways-rise-37-per-cent-five-years