As a Brummie born and bred, I am proud that ours is a city built on migration, and that our greatest strength is diversity.

However it is a city that’s home to 187 different nationalities, an array of faiths, communities and different cultures, and in the main, our many communities live and work together in harmony.

Our faith groups and other community leaders have worked hard for many years to support cohesion and mutual understanding across Birmingham.

But discrimination and hatred are not tolerated here – and they never will be.

So it is worrying that both the Community Security Trust and Tell Mama have reported significant increases in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime in the past week, which reinforces the importance of tackling hate crime wherever and however it manifests in our city, and beyond.

I will be meeting with the city’s Faith Leaders’ Group this week to understand how these events are affecting all communities across Birmingham.

Council officers have been working closely with partners to provide information, reassurance and support to organisations and communities affected by the ongoing dispute in the Middle East.

• This has included providing guidance to all education settings across the city, as well as community networks, working with West Midlands Police, particularly for Jewish communities.

• Community Safety colleagues have engaged with both Tell Mama and CST to ensure reported hate crimes are dealt with, and awareness on how to report them is shared with all communities.

• The council’s Prevent team have also worked with local mosques to discuss a local response to recent events, and our graffiti teams have responded swiftly to remove all hate crime graffiti as it is reported.

• Meanwhile Resilience Team colleagues have also stepped up CCTV monitoring of protests to assess risks and together with the Community Safety Team will be monitoring tensions that may arise as the conflict continues.

Be assured, Birmingham will always stand firm against any who seek to divide our communities and faiths, they must not be allowed to empower those who seek to spread hate in our communities.

As a City of Sanctuary, Birmingham has long been known for its warm welcome and for being a place where people fleeing from war and persecution can come and build new lives.

I want to clearly reaffirm our commitment as a local authority, as a city, as citizens, to stand up against hate and prejudice – these have no place in our city.

For more information or to report any hate crime, the links below may be useful:

• If you wish to make a report to West Midlands Police you can do so online here https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/hate-crime#

• The Community Security Trust (CST) has published various resources on their social media feeds, including guidance on how to communicate about Israel in a non-antisemitic way. Antisemitic attacks can also be reported to them by calling 0800 032 3263

• Tell Mama is a confidential support service for those suffering from anti-Muslim hate and discrimination across the UK, which also offers guidance on personal and Mosque security. To report Islamophobic attacks, call 0800 456 1226

• Stop Hate UK also offers advice, support and resources for those experiencing or reporting any form of hate crime in the UK either online or by calling 0113 293 5100

Cllr Nicky Brennan is the Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities

 

Post published on 16 October 2023