Londoners recount racist abuse as hate crime figures climb

Londoners share personal encounters with racist abuse—from a Walthamstow restaurant to a Wembley FA Cup incident—as Met Police data show racist hate crimes in London rose about 9% to nearly 18,000 in the last year; victims describe lasting impacts, including identity crises and fear, with communities offering support; police say they’re forming a detective-led hate crime team to improve investigations, though many incidents go unreported.