In the last few weeks East London has witnessed an increase in acid attacks while hate crime directed towards Muslims is on the rise nationally. In response Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali said:

“The recent increase in hate crime and particularly the phenomenon of acid attacks has caused huge anxiety and fear in the community.

Acid attacks are a deeply worrying phenomenon that requires urgent action. I and other local leaders will continue to work with the police and other agencies but the Government needs to take these attacks much more seriously and do much more to tackle these and other forms of hate crime.”

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ENDS

Notes to Editors:
1) For further information or comment please contact Rushanara Ali MP’s Office on 020 7219 7200 or email [email protected]

2) You can find more information on Rushanara’s work in Parliament here:

3) In 2015 incidents of anti-Muslim abuse and attacks in the UK rose by 326%, according to Tell MAMA. The recent terrorist attacks in London and Manchester have also created a spike in hate crime as Tell MAMA has recorded a fivefold increase in Islamophobic attacks since the London Bridge terrorist attack.

4) Since 2010 the policing budget has been cut by the Home Office by £600 million which has resulted in London losing thousands of Police and Community Police Support Officers.