Race hate crimes against children at three year high, NSPCC investigation finds

Recorded race hate crime offences against children in Greater Manchester have escalated to a three-year high, an NSPCC investigation has found.

There were 797 offences flagged by GMP as race hate crimes against children in 2017/18, a rise of 155% since 2015/16, up from 312.

Across the north west, police forces in the region recorded a total of 1,245 offences in 2017/18, a rise of 96% from the 635 offences recorded in 2015/16.

A Freedom of Information request by the NSPCC to police forces has shown that toddlers and babies yet to reach their first birthday were amongst the victims of race hate crimes.

Children have also told the NSPCC-run service Childline they were being targeted because of the way they looked, and reported being told to 'go back to their own country'.

Some tried to change their appearance by using make-up, while others said they did not want to tell their parents for fear of upsetting them. 

Childline held 2,617 counselling sessions about race and faith-based bullying between 2015/16 and 2017/18. Girls were more likely to speak to Childline than boys, and the most common age group to get in touch about the issue was children aged 12-15.

One girl, 10, said: “I’ve been bullied ever since I started school. The bullies call me nasty names; it makes me feel so ashamed. My friends won’t hang out with me anymore because people started asking why they were friends with someone who had dirty skin.

“I was born in the UK but bullies tell me to go back to my own country. I don’t understand because I’m from the UK.  I’ve tried to make my face whiter before using make up so that I can fit in. I just want to enjoy going to school.”

One 16-year-old girl said: “In the last few weeks, I seem to be getting racist comments wherever I go. People call me a terrorist and keep telling me to go back to where I came from. I dress in traditional Muslim clothes and I think it singles me out. I usually just put my head down and get on with it but it’s getting to the point now where I genuinely feel like I might get attacked.”

Childline counsellor Atiyah Wazir said: “Over the eight years that I’ve volunteered as a counsellor it is just as heart-breaking every single time a child tells you they wish they looked different.

“These children have been made to feel shame and guilt and sometimes daren’t tell their mums or dads about it because they don’t want to worry or hurt their feelings.

“I want every child to know that this bullying is not ok, they have nothing to be ashamed of, and Childline is always here to listen.”

Head of Childline John Cameron said: “Childhood bullying of this nature can cause long term emotional harm to children and can create further divisions in our society.

“If we see a child bullying another because of their race we need to tackle it head on, by explaining that it’s not ok and how hurtful it is. I would urge any child who is being targeted because of their race to contact Childline, and any adult to call the Helpline if they are worried about a child.”

The NSPCC's Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help.

Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on: 0800 11 11