There is an initiative to make strict laws against hate crimes in Britain. Amid the war between Israel and Hamas, reports of anti-Semitism and Islamophobic hate crimes have emerged in parts of Britain. Scotland Yard chief has warned of strictness.
The war that has been going on in Western Asia for the last 29 days is affecting European countries as well. Amid reports of increasing anti-Semitism and Islamophobic hate crimes in Britain, the Scotland Yard chief has said that strict laws will be made in Britain against extremism. Scotland Yard has arrested a total of nine people for attacking its officers.
The head of Britain’s largest police force said on Sunday that “tough” legal measures were being taken to tackle extremism on the country’s streets. It is noteworthy that marches were taken out across Britain against the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas in the West Asian city of Gaza.
On measures to tackle extremism, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley told Sky News that his officers would deal harshly with anyone “crossing the line” by committing a hate crime. He said the police were working “vigorously” to arrest those accused of hate crimes.
Let us tell you that since the conflict in the Middle East intensified at the beginning of this month, there has been an increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobic hate crimes in Britain. The Metropolitan Police said it recorded 408 anti-Semitic crimes against Britain’s Jewish communities this month, compared to only 28 in the same period last year. Islamophobic hate crimes have now increased from 65 in October 2022 to 174.
“I think there is room for greater rigor in the way we deal with extremism in this country,” stated Police Commissioner Mark Rowley. The law was never designed to deal with extremism.” “We have laws to deal with terrorism, we have laws to deal with hate crime, we don’t have any laws to deal with extremism and that’s what’s making the difference,” he said.
Rowley’s statement came as government ministers, including Britain’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman, raised questions about the lack of arrests related to “jihad” chants during the protests. Let us tell you that last weekend there were protests in support of Palestine. According to media reports, the British government may reconsider its definition of extremism. The government is concerned that the Metropolitan Police is not being strong enough against protesters. The government believes that due to the lack of strictness of the police, incidents of inciting hatred are taking place in the country.
Rowley said there had been several “disgusting” scenes at recent pro-Palestinian protests in London, but the cases were not of the level to be prosecuted. He told ‘Sky News’ that legal action is often not taken amid large protests. There is no point in arresting hundreds of people if the incidents are not prosecutable. “We will take strong action within the ambit of the law. We will show no mercy to the miscreants. There will be many more arrests in the next week or so,” he said.
Let us tell you that on Saturday thousands of people marched across London. Similar protests took place in Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, and other UK cities. People taking part in the demonstration were seen carrying Palestinian flags and banners. Protesters are appealing for an end to the violence amid the deaths of more than 9,000 people in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
