LONDON - Deep-rooted institutional racism is driving a troubling rise in violence against people of colour in the United Kingdom (UK), according to a report by leading civil rights NGOs. The Runnymede Trust and Amnesty International UK presented their findings during the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s 113th Session from August 5 to 13.
Their report, supported by over 40 civil society organisations, provides a stark view of persistent racial inequality and systemic failures.
The 50-page analysis paints a grim picture of how UK governments have repeatedly failed to address ongoing disparities affecting people of colour. It points to a disturbing increase in racist and Islamophobic violence, a decade-long rise in hate crimes based on religion, and serious gaps in tackling these critical issues.
Among the report’s most striking revelations: nearly half (47%) of children of colour live in poverty, compared to just 24% of white children. The report highlights severe policing biases, noting that Black children are 6.5 times more likely to be strip-searched than their white peers, and Black adults face a 4.7 times higher chance of receiving the same invasive treatment.
Employment gaps are also pronounced, with Pakistani and Black individuals twice as likely to hold precarious jobs compared to white workers. Unemployment rates for women of Bengali heritage are eight times higher than those for white British women.
Housing conditions are similarly dire for people of colour. Renters in these communities are 87% more likely to face illegal actions from landlords, and 22% more likely to deal with issues like dampness or mould.
The report also notes a troubling rise in the number of Safer Schools Officers, who are disproportionately assigned to schools with larger numbers of pupils of colour and working-class students. Additionally, people of colour face significant health disparities, with their life expectancies notably shorter than their white counterparts.
The report criticises recent legislation, including the Illegal Migration Act (2023) and previous laws such as the Police, Crime Sentencing, and Courts Act (2022). It argues that these policies deepen existing inequalities and erode the civil and political rights of people of colour. The increase in police presence in schools is also a point of concern, raising questions about its impact on students from marginalised backgrounds.
Alba Kapoor, Head of Policy at the Runnymede Trust, stressed the urgency for change: “As far-right extremists attack, harass, and intimidate people of colour in the UK, we face an unprecedented need to confront racial injustice. The rollback of civil and political rights for people of colour over the past five years is unacceptable. In 2024, it is a scandal that people of colour, including children, are enduring such levels of poverty and deprivation.”
Ilyas Nagdee, Racial Justice Director at Amnesty UK, echoed these concerns, emphasising the systemic nature of the problem: “The racist and Islamophobic violence erupting on UK streets exposes the failures of successive governments to address institutional racism. Instead of tackling these issues, racism and discrimination have become entrenched in legislation and policy. The current restrictions on dissent and protest only serve to further marginalise already vulnerable communities.”
The report calls for bold reforms, including the abolition of the two-child limit benefit cap, the elimination of the Prevent Duty, and a ban on strip searches of children. It also demands the repeal of harmful legislation and recognising housing rights as fundamental human rights. Kapoor urges the newly elected Labour Government to take decisive action that goes “beyond superficial fixes; it must overhaul the national debate and make tackling institutional racism and inequality a core mission.”
