The £875k will go towards the mayor’s fund which “works to empower Londoners to challenge hateful views”, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Sir Sadiq Khan has announced he will invest an extra £875,000 into a programme aimed at tackling hate crime and extremism in the capital, amid warnings that radicalisation is on the rise.

The funding comes as the mayor says he remains concerned about the “devastating consequences” of “false information” being spread on social media, particularly in the wake of the riots which took place following the murder of three young girls in Southport last year.

The investment will go towards the mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund, which “works to empower Londoners to challenge hateful views in their communities, better protect those vulnerable to radicalisation and stop the spread of growing hateful ideologies including the far-right”, according to City Hall.

The programme has also provided educational sessions which have sought to address tensions caused by the war in Israel and Gaza, as the mayor said the “heart-breaking loss of innocent lives, humanitarian and hostage crisis” is “being used by some bad actors to promote antisemitism and Islamophobia”.

Although reported hate crime incidents are falling across the capital, they still remain at a relatively high level, as more than 21,200 were recorded in the past twelve months.

The latest cash injection will support approximately 20 projects to run educational activities for around 50,000 Londoners. Previous beneficiaries of the funding have included Anne Frank Trust UK and Protection Approaches, a charity working to tackle all forms of identity-based violence.

“The Southport disorder and chilling hate crime attacks that followed shocked our nation and showed how false information on social media spread like wildfire with devastating consequences,” said Khan.

“Here in London we stand united against all forms of hate. Our diversity is our greatest strength and those who intend to divide us will never win.

“This new funding is part of my record £15.9m investment – more than any other mayor – to tackle hate crime in all its forms and will strengthen Londoners’ resilience to extremism, help stop the spread of hateful narratives, and safeguard vulnerable young Londoners from radicalisation and misinformation online.”

He added: “Although incidents of hate crime have fallen in the past year, they remain far too high – particularly antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism which have profoundly impacted our Jewish and Muslim communities in London. I’m determined to continue to work in partnership with Londoners, stakeholders and the police to ensure everyone in the capital feels safe and is safe.

“At a time of rising tension and online hate, this fund will continue to build bridges across communities, embrace what we have in common and help ensure Londoners of all backgrounds and faiths feel welcome and safe, building a better London for everyone.”

Sarah Nuzum, acting co-CEO at Anne Frank Trust UK, said: “Thanks to support from the mayor of London’s Shared Endeavour Fund, we reached 2,690 young people across London with vital workshops challenging antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of hate.

“In a time of rising prejudice and division, these workshops create safe spaces for honest conversations, helping young people to recognise extreme views, think critically, and feel empowered to stand up to hate. We’re proud to be part of a city-wide effort to build more resilient, cohesive communities, and we welcome the mayor’s continued commitment to tackling Islamophobia, antisemitism and prejudice in all its forms.”

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of young people being drawn towards a pathway to radicalisation through extremist content they are seeing and being exposed to online. We are always keen to examine new and innovative ideas that will help stem the flow of extremist ideologies.

“Thankfully, hate crime incidents have decreased in the past year. However, we are not complacent and we continue to work with our key partners such as local authorities, Mopac, education establishments and the charity sector to ensure there will be no tolerance for hate crime or extremist ideologies in London.”

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