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Sadiq Khan has launched a new TfL Hate Crime Taskforce to help tackle antisemitism and Islamophobia on
London 's transport network. The unit will also help
police and other authorities crack down on violence against
Women and girls, City Hall said. Transport chiefs and community representatives will form the taskforce, identifying areas of risk and developing safety measures for TfL's sprawling network. It will include responding to racist vandalism more quickly, improvements to CCTV or lighting and a more visible presence from staff or police at stations. The Mayor announced the new measures at the London Jewish Forum on Tuesday morning, where he discussed the spike in hate crime in the wake of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel. Mr Khan said: "No part of London should feel unsafe or unwelcoming to any Londoner, especially our busy transport network. "There has been a deeply worrying rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime in London and across the country since October 7, and we need to do everything we possibly can to address this. "TfL and the police have been doing all they can to target offenders, but there's always more we can do. We need to be even more proactive in preventing incidents happening in the first place and targeting the worst hotspots. "This new Taskforce will work directly with London's public bodies, helping them bear down hard on violence, hate and intimidation, particularly against women and girls. Mayor under pressure over pre-9am travel for older Londoners Anti-Ulez vigilantes using bat boxes as part of latest disruption tactic Tear out havoc-causing cycle lanes, says Susan Hall Buying a new car? Here's why Omoda needs to be on your radar "This will always be a priority for me as mayor. There must never be any complacency when it comes to fighting hate crime across our city." Mr Khan also pledged a further £250,000 to support the victims of hate crime and promote community cohesion, on top of the £14.8million already invested in tackling the problem. There were 4,103 incidents of anti-Jewish hate recorded across the
UK in 2023, according to the latest Community Security Trust’s Anti-Semitic Incidents Report. More than 170 were reported on London tubes and buses. Tell MAMA, which monitors anti-Muslim hate, recorded 2010 cases since October 7. Over 500 of those were in the capital. It comes as crime on the Tube soared by almost 40 per cent on pre-pandemic levels and fare-dodging has hit a record high, TfL's latest crime data reveals. A total of 10,420 crimes were recorded on the London Underground between last December and May, fuelled by a four-fold increase in robbery and a 66 per cent hike in thefts. MORE ABOUT Have your say...