Hate Crime following Brexit

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister – in the Senedd at 2:51 pm on 16 January 2019.

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Photo of Leanne Wood Leanne Wood Plaid Cymru 2:51, 16 January 2019

It was reported towards the end of last year that recorded hate crime in Wales and England rose by 17 per cent to 94,000 in the 12 months to March of last year. The Home Office say improvements in the way that crime is recorded could partly account for the large increase that has been evident for the last five years, but they acknowledge that there was a spike in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum. Now, I've got no doubt in my mind and from my own experience that society has become less friendly for women and minorities since that referendum campaign, and this is reflected in social media in particular. Will your Government send out a strong message condemning such hate crimes, and ensure that victims know what, if any, support services are available to them? And would you also be prepared to open up dialogue with the social media companies to ensure that swift action is taken to shut down online hate crimes?