New figures obtained by Society Guardian reveal a dramatic increase in hate crimes against Polish people in the UK. In 2013, police made 585 arrests for hate crimes targeting Poles, one every 14 hours, a tenfold rise since Poland joined the EU in 2004. The data, gathered through freedom of information requests, covers only 26 of 46 police forces, suggesting the true number is higher.
Damian Citko, 39, a network administrator from Opole, was attacked by 15 men outside a pub in Dagenham in January. He was beaten while wearing a helmet and heard shouts of 'Go back to Poland.' He survived thanks to his padded biking gear. In another case, Maria Glok's home in Belfast was vandalised with bricks thrown through windows during a spate of attacks in April.
Hotspots include Hertfordshire, with 97 arrests, Northern Ireland (85), and Lancashire (53). A survey of 1,000 Polish people by London College of Communications found 71% had suffered abuse or knew someone physically attacked for being Polish. Andrzej Rygielski, 51, from Kent, has endured years of abuse, including graffiti and an assault in his shop.
Superintendent Paul Giannasi of the Association of Chief Police Officers said police are working to increase reporting and ensure complaints are handled sensitively. However, Polish charities warn the recession and benefit cuts are fuelling anti-Polish sentiment. Krzysztof Kawczynski of Flowers of Human Hearts noted a steep rise in violent attacks since the recession began, saying, 'When there are fewer jobs, some blame Poles.'
