Three-year high for race hate crimes against children in Wales

• Welsh police forces have logged nearly 600 race hate offences against children in the past three years, with 240 of these crimes recorded last year.

• Toddlers and babies recorded as among the victims of offences.

• Children affected by racial bullying and abuse urged to contact Childline.

CHILDREN as young as one were among the victims of race hate in Wales, as the number of offences recorded by police has escalated to a three-year high.

An NSPCC investigation found that there were 594 offences recorded by the four Welsh forces in the past three years.

There were 240 race hate crimes logged in 2017/18 alone – an average of 20 per month – in Wales and an increase of nearly 85 per cent since 2015/16, up from 130.

Responses from the four Welsh police forces to the NSPCC’s Freedom of Information request found that children aged between one and 17 were all recorded as among the victims of race hate crimes.

South Wales Police recorded the highest number of race hate crimes over the three-year period (381), followed by North Wales (101), Gwent (75) and Dyfed-Powys (37).

Children who have called the NSPCC-supported service Childline said they were targeted because of the way they looked, and reportedly 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 with children from across the UK 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 between 12 and 15.

John Cameron, the head of Childline, 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.”

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 dare not 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.”

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.”