Rioting by racists and Islamophobics this month has been caused by a failure to tackle the UK's institutional racism, charities are warning.

The warning has been made in a joint submission from charities Amnesty International UK and the Runnymede Trust to the UN Commission on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

It is backed by 40 charitable organisations including Liberty, Black Equity Organisations, Inquest, Migrants Organise, and Friends Families and Travellers.

They say that UK government legislation and policy that originated from the previous Conservative government is in breach of UN commitments to end racism globally.

Last year’s Illegal Migration Act, which barred those who arrive to the UK illegally from staying, “will likely disproportionately impact people of colour”.

Laws enacted in 2022 are also criticised as institutionally racist. This includes the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Act, which restricts protests and gives the police more powers, and the Elections Act, which requires voter ID but based on limited forms of identification skewed towards older people.

Another 2022 law of concern is the Nationality and Borders Act, which gave the Home Secretary powers to strip people of their citizenship as well as send asylum seekers to Rwanda, although this measure has been dropped by the current Labour government.

All laws mentioned by the charities disproportionately impact global majority people and should be repealed, the charities say.

The two-child limit benefit cap and police strip searching children are other areas of concern that should also be scrapped, by the Labour government.

“The racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlight the failures of successive governments to make progress on institutional racism,” said Amnesty UK’s racial justice director Ilyas Nagdee.

“Since the last reporting period, the Committee should be alert to the myriad ways racism and discrimination have been embedded in legislation and policy practice, rather than tackled by successive governments.

“The new UK government must not move forward attempting piecemeal reform, it must reset the national debate and make tackling institutional racism and inequality foundational to its missions and ensure we do not vilify but protect some of the most marginalised people in the UK.”

While social media is full of violent scenes, across the UK thousands have come out to challenge racism, support their neighbours and take care of each other.

Racism has no place in our society.#UKPolitics #Racism #Islamophobia pic.twitter.com/KpE8k3bbs0

— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) August 7, 2024

The spark of this month’s rioting by racist groups and individuals was misinformation spread online around the identity of the teenager charged with the murder of three young girls, who were killed at a dance event for children in Southport.

After an initial week of violence more recent racist and far right events have been diffused through a stronger police presence, swift sentencing and peaceful demonstrations staged by anti-racist groups.

During the violence Mosques, businesses and charities were targeted, including Sunderland Citizens Advice. One of its offices was destroyed by fire during the riots and prompted a fundraiser to support the charity’s work, which has raised £18,000 as of Monday 12 August.

“As far-right thugs attack, harass and intimidate people of colour in the UK, there could be no more urgent time to address racial injustice,” added Runnymede Trust head of policy Alba Kapoor.

“People of colour have faced a rowback on their civil and political rights over the past five years. From the inhumane changes to our asylum system, to the introduction of legislation that restricts protest rights and ramps up harmful policing powers, it is time to shift the dial.

“This has been coupled with deep-rooted inequalities in access to housing, education and wealth - as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

“It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues and will need radical solutions to undo them.

“This new government must act to end the othering of migrant communities and people seeking asylum, and commit to meaningful structural changes that address deep rooted inequalities in our society.

“Our submission to the Committee highlights key recommendations to take forward in order for that to happen.”

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