A report by the charity People's Health Trust has found that the violent disorder which swept parts of England in summer 2024 had a 'devastating' long-term impact on the mental and physical health of affected communities. The research drew on the experiences of over 50 community organisations working with tens of thousands of people in the neighbourhoods hardest hit by the racially motivated unrest.
Almost two-thirds of those groups said they thought it was likely that the people they work with would experience racist hate crime and violence in the near future. The violence broke out after the murder of three young girls in Southport, amid the spread of false information online that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker.
The research found that racialised communities reported hyper-vigilance, heightened anxiety, chronic stress and fear of using public spaces. Muslim girls and women have been particularly affected, experiencing increasing levels of Islamophobia, racism and misogyny, with many reporting increased anxiety and isolation.
John Hume, chief executive of People's Health Trust, said: 'This report lays bare the immediate and longer-term health impacts of racist violence. Last year's racist riots have left a deep scar, especially in communities already facing inequality, discrimination, and disinvestment.' The charity has urged the government to develop a specific strategy with dedicated resources to support those affected and help prevent future unrest.
Of the grassroots organisations surveyed, 62% said those they support were 'likely' or 'very likely' to experience racist hate crime or violence in the near future, with many describing the abuse as a daily occurrence. One community arts organisation in north-west England noted that the riots occurred in participants' streets, leading to a physical withdrawal among young people and a reluctance to practise independence.
