Police investigate rise in hate crime following EU referendum

Police in Edinburgh are investigating an increase in hate crime following the EU referendum.

Posters have been put up in the capital with content that has been described as “neo-Nazi, anti-Islamic and anti-Polish”.

People of Asian origin have been told “you’ll be next”, with a half Indo-Caribbean, half-white woman being racially abused on a bus. A woman shouted at her: “Get your passport, you’re f ****** going home”.

The news comes as figures reveal that more than 3,000 hate crimes and incidents have been reported to forces around the UK since the second half of June.

This represents a 42 per cent increase on the same period last year.

There are 13,000 Poles in Edinburgh, making up 2.7 per cent of the city’s population.

Magda Czarnecka, from migrant support group Feniks, advised victims to come forward, saying: “Do not interact with the person, but notice information, or record it, and report it to police.”

Cammy Day, Labour councillor for Forth ward said: “Edinburgh is a diverse and thriving city and we do not tolerate any form of hate crime, whether it’s to do with age, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or disability.”

He added: “Anyone who sees or experiences this to get in touch with their neighbourhood office or Police Scotland.”