First, you had the pro-Palestine march, a massive event where tens of thousands waved flags and chanted slogans. Then, you had the far-right counter-protest, which was smaller but, let’s be honest, came with a lot more bad haircuts and brass knuckles. The Met Police announced they were investigating dozens of potential hate crimes from both sides. That’s right—dozens. Because apparently, when you gather a crowd in London, the second most common thing after hot tea is hurling insults that might break the law.
Here’s the kicker: out of all those complaints, the police ended up making just a handful of arrests. Most of the “hate crimes” turned out to be things like shouting at someone or waving a flag too aggressively. One guy got nicked for wearing a T-shirt that said, “Keep London Generic,” which, frankly, is a hate crime against good fashion.
The Casual Casualties: When Banter Becomes a Crime Scene
Let me give you some examples. At the far-right rally, police investigated a man who allegedly shouted, “Go back to your own country” at a counter-protester. That sounds bad, until you realize the target was a British-born bloke from Birmingham. Surprising fact: you can’t deport someone to a place they already live, unless you’re building a wall around their flat. Meanwhile, at the pro-Palestine march, a woman was reported for holding a sign that said, “Free Palestine, and also free parking.” The cops spent an hour deciding if that was a crime or just a very specific commuter complaint.
The Met’s big problem? Hate crime laws in the UK are incredibly broad. Legally, a hate crime is any incident where the victim perceives it as motivated by hostility based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. That means if I call you a “greasy sausage” because you’re from Germany, that could technically be a hate crime—but only if you take it that way. And let’s be real, the Germans have a great sense of humor about sausages. Probably.
In numbers: Has Britain really become more racist? - BBC News
