An increase in racially-motivated hate crimes in York has been condemned as unacceptable by the city’s council leader.
Claire Douglas said she was saddened by a recent rise in offences, including one where two men were attacked in Hull Road Park in June.
On Thursday (July 17), Cllr Douglas told a full meeting of the authority that every man, woman, and child in York should feel safe, secure and valued.
The comments follow North Yorkshire Police figures showed 510 hate crimes were recorded in York in the 12 months, up to the end of June. The proportion of those which were racially-motivated was 59%.
The percentage was in line with the same period the year before, but up from 51% between the start of July 2022 and the end of June 2023.
All hate crime offences were up from 454, between July 2023 and June 2024, and from 380 during the same period in 2022 and 2023.
A total of 282 offences have been recorded in York this year, from January up to 20 July, out of 681 across all of North Yorkshire.
June saw 53 offences in York occur, the highest of any month so far, with 28 recorded this month so far.
Excluding July, this year’s monthly average currently stands at 43 offences, with 31 in January as the lowest recorded.
Force data shows that 33% of the 1,135 hate crimes recorded in North Yorkshire, between July 2022 and June 2023, took place in York.
The proportion rose to 38% of 1,199 offences recorded the year after, and to 42% of 1,209 logged in the 12 months leading up to this June.
Hate crimes are criminal offences where the victim or others feel the culprit was motivated by hostility or prejudice to a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Recent offences include a group of around 15 balaclava-clad youths attacking two men with tennis rackets and sticks in Hull Road Road on Sunday 22 June.
The police stated the men were also subject to racist abuse due to being Muslims.
Officers arrested a 15-year-old boy on Thursday 26 June, on suspicion of two racially-aggravated assaults as part of their investigation.
He has since been released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries, with officers saying that further arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
Council Leader, Cllr Douglas and the authority’s safer communities spokesperson, Mr. Michael Pavlovic, North Yorkshire Police, as well as the York Human Rights Network have since jointly condemned the attacks.
Inspector Nick Plumb, of York’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said those responsible would face consequences for their despicable behaviour.
A Human Rights City Network spokesperson said there was no place for racism, hatred or violence of any kind in York.
In her report to Thursday’s full council meeting, Cllr Douglas said a rise in racial hate crimes in York was totally unacceptable.
The council leader said: “I would like to show my ongoing, continued and unerring support for communities across our city who have experienced the recently reported and abhorrent race hate crimes.
“I will continue to work with the communities most affected by these crimes and their perpetrators.”