Hate crime in Spain rises

A report on hate crime by the Ministry of Interior has highlighted the concerning figures following after a video of an attack by Madrid railway staff on a black man was leaked online.

The video went viral last Friday and appeared to show two metro security guards beating a man who, according to statements, refused to leave the station.

An investigation is underway into the attack and the firm which employed the guards, Integral Security Group (GSI).

This is the latest incident in a year that has been tainted by apparent racist, homophobic and xenophobic attacks has prompted the Ministry of Interior to release figures of hate crimes to force local governments into taking drastic action.

Hate crimes were first officially recorded in 2013 where 1,172 specific reports were received by the National Police. In 2017 the figure rose by nearly 21 per cent to 1,419. The largest of the increases occurred between 2016 and 2017 with 2016’s figures being 1,272.

According to statistics, the majority of these crimes occur through racism or xenophobia with a total of 2,301 over the span of five years. Sexual orientation was second followed by religious beliefs.

The Ministry of Interior closed the report with a plea to local governments across the country.

“Acting against hate crimes helps improve the coexistence of a multicultural society, formed by different people and, as a direct consequence, will mean living in a better society.”