Voice is being raised against hate crime in Britain. British-Indian member Krupesh Hirani moved a motion in the Assembly this week. In this, an appeal has been made to the Metropolitan Police for strictness in dealing with the increasing incidents of anti-Hindu hatred. Hirani's proposal calls for including anti-Hindu hate crimes in the category of crimes based on religion.

Krupesh Hirani attempted to highlight examples of "Hinduphobia". He addressed the gathering – as Mayor of the Greater London Authority – on issues affecting Londoners. His proposal was presented on Thursday. Let us tell you that the data of Britain's Home Ministry shows that 291 hate crimes took place against Hindus in 2022-23, which is more than the previous year. Last year, 161 hate crimes were recorded.

In a unanimously passed resolution, Krupesh Hirani called on the Metropolitan Police to work with local Hindu communities. He appealed to encourage confidence among Hindus in reporting targeted hate crimes. Hirani said, "There is absolutely no place for Hinduphobia in London and beyond. Sadly, there has been a worrying increase in hate crimes in our community over the past year."

Hindus are the second most vulnerable group to face religiously motivated hate crimes, he said, but this is not reflected in police data. This shows that the police should, firstly, record it better and secondly, respond to it better. Hirani said, "They are pleased that the London Assembly supports holding the Metropolitan Police to account so that the police can rebuild the trust they have in their communities."

Hirani cited crime surveys for England and Wales, which show that Hindus are the second most vulnerable religion to be victims of religiously motivated hate crimes. Their motion reads, "That the House calls on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to work with local Hindu communities to encourage confidence in reporting Hindu hate crimes."