Post-Brexit hate crimes soar in UK, new report shows

LONDON (AA) – Religious and race hate crimes have soared in the U.K. since a referendum decision in June to leave the European Union, new figures show.

Data released Thursday revealed 5,468 religion and race-motivated offenses – roughly over 180 cases per day – were reported to police in England and Wales in just one month in July 2016, a 41 percent increase during the same month in the previous year.

Britons voted by a 52-48 percent margin to leave the European Union in a referendum on June 23.

There was a sharp rise in verbal and physical assaults in the days after the poll, with many of the attacks targeting ethnic and religious minorities.

In August, a Polish man was killed in a suspected xenophobic attack in the eastern English town of Harlow.

Thursday’s police data showed offences recorded by the police had peaked in the month following the referendum, with the number of hate crimes overall up 19 percent in the year 2015/16.

U.K. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the increase was partly driven by victims being more willing to report incidents to the police.

“Hatred has no place in a Britain that works for everyone and we are determined to stamp it out,” she said in comments released alongside the police data.

“I am pleased to see government action is working and that more victims are finding the confidence to come forward to report these crimes.

“Our hate crime laws are among the best in the world, but we cannot be complacent.”