Bambos Charalambous MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, responding to the announcement of a review into legislation loopholes exploited by extremists, said:

“For too long individuals and groups have been stoking community tensions, inciting racial hatred and encouraging violence and extremism against communities with impunity. The coronavirus pandemic has been no exception. Extremists have placed blame on different ethnic groups and whipped up hatred online with vile conspiracy theories.

“The review is an opportunity for the Commission for Countering Extremism to listen to organisations that support victims of hate crimes, to truly understand the hostility being sown in our communities and the deep wounds caused by Government inaction to prevent hate crimes.”