A youth-led Battersea group held a conference last week amid concerns over the prevalence of hate crime.

Elays held the event, which was aimed towards both Muslim and non-Muslim people and encouraged people to stand against hate crimes while protecting others.

Several people attended the conference on Friday, November 3, including Detective Sergeant Richard MacKenzie, hate crime coordinator for Wandsworth, and hate-monitoring group Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks).

There was a 47 percent rise in street-based incidents which were related to crime in 2016, according to Tell MAMA’s latest report.

It is said the greatest impact was felt by ‘visible’ Muslim women who wear traditionally Islamic clothing, such as a headscarf (hijab), face veil (niqab) or a combination of garments.

Another 56 percent said to be victims of the incidents were victims, the organisation said.

Abdirahman Xirsi, Elays project manager, said: “Hate crime can have a debilitating effect on victims and their families, as well as on the wider community.

“I have sadly seen too many instances of people within our local community having their lives disrupted by fear that they will be harassed, simply because of who they are.

“This practical conference aims to empower all victims to know that their voices will be heard, and to come forward in the knowledge that hate crimes simply will not be tolerated.

“Working together with the police and authorities, communities can and must encourage people to report all such crimes - and send a clear signal that no one in this country should ever have to endure prejudice or hatred.”

For more information, visit: www.elaysnetwork.com