Police vow to act after Tooting MP reveals extent of racial abuse

Tooting’s MP, also a consultant at St George’s accident & emergency ward, has revealed she was racially abused as she worked.

Rosena Allin-Khan had bigoted slurs “hurled” at her on Saturday.

Labour’s frontbench spokesman on mental health took to Twitter to tell her abuser that their “views are harmful”.

She also thanked “the man who got out of his car to help” during the incident, thus showing “that bigoted views are not welcome” in the Tooting community.

Dr Allin-Khan reminded the public to report hate crime if experienced or seen.

The full tweet said: “To the person who hurled racist abuse at me today, your views are harmful.

“To the man who got out of his car to help, your actions showed that bigoted views are not welcome in our Tooting community. Thank you.

“Reminder: if you see or experience hate crime, please report it.”

Wandsworth Police quoted the MP’s tweet to remind the public that racial abuse is “never acceptable” and that it will always be treated seriously.

Wandsworth Neighbourhood Inspector Jonathan Lloyd, said: “Racial abuse is never acceptable, and we take incidents of hate crime very seriously.

“I was disappointed to learn of this incident, but I want to reiterate that police will investigate incidents like this, and that we will always look to do all we can in making sure those who commit hate crime are brought to justice.”

“Hate crime can have a significant effect on someone’s life, and so we would always encourage victims or witnesses of hate crime to contact police.”

“We will never tolerate behaviour motivated by hate, ignorance or prejudice when it comes to someone’s race, religion, sexuality, disability, or gender identity.”

If you or someone else has become a victim of hate crime you can report it by phoning 101, visiting a police station or doing so online: https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/hco/hate-crime/how-to-report-hate-crime/

We know it can be difficult to speak to police about hate crime, and there are several organisations who can also help if you are not ready to report the incident to us.

To report the incident anonymously, visit Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org

For practical advice and support, visit Victim Support: https://victimsupport.org.uk

For support and to report hate targeting Muslim people, visit TellMama: https://tellmamauk.org

For support and to report hate targeting Jewish people, visit Community Safety Trust: https://cst.org.uk/

To report hate crime, and for advice, visit Stop Hate UK: https://stophateuk.org

For support and advice in regards to anti-LGBT Hate, visit Galop: https://galop.org.uk

For support and advice in regards to hate targeting disabled or deaf persons, visit Inclusion London: https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/

Allin-Khan, previously a Labour deputy leadership hopeful has also revealed she had been victim of inappropriate behaviour as a junior doctor.

Ms Allin-Khan, who is still a practising A&E doctor, said she had endured harassment before becoming an MP in 2016, describing how the “horrific” experience made her “dread coming to work”.