Council Leader Warns of an Increase in Hate Comment

Published on: 6 Nov, 2026
Updated on: 6 Nov, 2026

Cllr Julia McShane speaking at the council meeting. GBC

By Martin Giles

Guildford Borough Council’s leader, Julia McShane (Lib Dem, Westborough), has warned of an “increase in propaganda” from people seeking to “spread hatred” in the community.

Her comments were made during Tuesday’s debate (November 3) on the council’s application to be listed as a “Council of Sanctuary” as a challenge to prejudice in society.

Cllr McShane hailed Guildford’s aid for Ukrainian, Afghan and Syrian refugees, thanked members of the community for their “kindness and support” and pointed out GBC’s “strong record” of supporting vulnerable people and groups.

However, she added: “Sadly, we have seen an increase in propaganda from those whose sole interest is to spread hatred and disharmony amongst our communities.

“We cannot stand by and let this go unchallenged, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of those who are victims of racism, discrimination or intimidation.”

Today, November 6, Cllr McShane clarified that she was not referring specifically to Guildford saying: “My comment was a general reflection on the situation across the country and was not intended to reference any particular activity, incident or event. The council is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive and respectful community for everyone.”

Official data does show an increase in racially and religiously motivated hate crimes and hostility in the UK and in Surrey.

Key Statistics (England and Wales)

Overall hate crime: According to Home Office data for the year ending March 2026, police recorded 146,825 hate crimes, which is a seven per cent increase compared to the previous year. [Source – Gov.UK]

Race hate crimes: Race-related hate offences rose by nine per cent, reaching 107,926 offences (up from 98,890 the previous year), making up the vast majority of all recorded hate crimes. [Source – Sky News and Gov.UK]

Religious hate crimes: Religious hate crimes increased by 13 per cent (from 10,067 to 11,419 offences), with specific sharp increases targeting Muslims (up 15 per cent) and Jews (up 10 per cent). [Source – Gov.UK]

In October 2025, the BBC reported that hate crime in England and Wales had risen for the first time in three years. Policing Minister Sarah Jones told the BBC at the time that the the rising figures were “a stark warning that hatred continues to blight our communities” and that “we are delivering the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years, alongside record funding to protect Muslim and Jewish people and places of worship.”

In Surrey the statistics are worse than the national average.

Surrey Statistics [Source – Gov.UK]

Race hate crime increase: Race hate crime in Surrey increased by 10 per cent to 2,045 recorded cases, according to local data reported in October 2026.

Broader context: Hate crimes in Surrey have nearly tripled over the past decade, with racially motivated hate crime remaining the most prevalent category recorded by Surrey Police.

Social media comments and online material can be included in police-recorded hate crime statistics in the UK if the comment or behaviour crosses the threshold into a criminal offence (such as malicious communications, stalking, or harassment) motivated by hostility or prejudice.

In England and Wales, police flag hate crime offences that involve an online component. For a social media comment to be officially counted as a hate crime, it must first violate the law (eg sending threatening, grossly offensive, or harassing material under laws like the Communications Act or Malicious Communications Act) and include a demonstrable hate motivation.

Earlier this year the controversial recording of “non-crime hate incidents”, where a social media comment or online post expressed hostility or was offensive, but did not meet the legal threshold of a criminal offence, was scrapped in order “to end policing of petty squabbles and free up officers’ time to fight crime in communities”. [Gov.UK].