A RISE in reports of hate crime following the EU referendum result has caused Tendring councillors to unite in condemning racist attacks.

Some 22 hate crimes were reported in Essex the week after the referendum on June 23, compared with nine reports the week before.

At a meeting of Tendring Council on Tuesday, July 5, leader Neil Stock announced he would issue a joint statement, signed by the leaders of each political group, “completely condemning” any racially motivated incidents .

He said: “It does fall upon us the 60 members of Tendring Council to do our part as community leaders.

“Right at heart of our corporate plan literally and metaphorically is community leadership.

“At no time can I think of it being more appropriate than right now when people are nervous, people are scared – there are reports in the press of rise in race-motivated crime.”

“I want to issue in the next couple of days or so a joint statement, that I hope will be signed by all political leaders on the council, that does make it clear we are not going to accept any behaviour within this district where foreigners are being picked on.”

Harwich Labour councillor Garry Calver said he had already witnessed examples of hate crime in the district following the referendum result.

“There are indications that unpleasant action is occur ring within the Tendring district,” he said.

“There’s no getting away from it. In some cases, violent propaganda was used during the campaign.

“I have a resident in my own ward who is an EU national, who has been told to go home in Dovercourt High Street, and not in so pleasant words.”