Rise in anti-Sikh hate crimes discussed with MPs

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, from the Sikh Federation, says the government does not recognise anti-Sikh hatred

Concerns about a rise in anti-Sikh hate crimes across the West Midlands have been raised in Westminster.

Campaigners from the Sikh Federation have met MPs at a lobby briefing in the Houses of Parliament.

It follows a number of attacks and two racially aggravated rapes in the region, in Walsall and Oldbury, in recent weeks, as well as a violent attack on two elderly Sikh taxi drivers in Wolverhampton.

Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston and a Sikh herself, attended the lobby and told the BBC it was a real time of worry for her community. The government said it has "zero tolerance for any form of religious hatred".

"This has created a really heightened sense of fear in the community," Ms Gill said.

"As a Sikh woman, it's certainly something I'm now thinking about.

"I walk everywhere, I use public transport. I'm looking around, I'm telling my daughters and other people I speak to to be aware of your surroundings.

"When can I recall a time when I've had to tell women to do that about their own safety? No one should have to worry about going out, especially a woman of colour."

Preet Kaur Gill MP says there is a real heightened sense of fear in the Sikh community in the West Midlands, particularly for women

With regard to the two racially aggravated rapes, Ms Gill added: "It's not something I ever thought we would see in modern Britain today.

"It's certainly not something I would expect to see, especially with our diverse communities living side by side for decades."

Distress the attacks have caused to local communities has resulted in a campaign to hand out rape alarms to Sikh students in the region.

The lobby also raised concerns the true number of hate crimes against Sikhs was being masked, because Sikhs are not measured as a distinct category.

'Community feels forgotten'

In the 70,000 racially aggravated hate crimes recorded in the year to March 2025, only 40% included an ethnicity, and the ethnicity categories are broad.

Ms Gill said this was particularly of concern because Sikhs and Jews are not listed as distinct categories.

"This is a big issue, because their ethnicity is not even recorded by any public body," Ms Gill said.

"It matters in terms of fairness. Public bodies only use the current ethnic categories in the ONS census to be able to monitor people and deliver public services - both Sikhs and Jews don't exist in those categories, they're invisible to policy makers.

"So, this community feels forgotten, it feels invisible, and it is saying, 'Enough is enough', it wants to see change."

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, from the Sikh Federation, was also at the lobby.

Mr Singh said: "What we're seeing over the summer and following the summer is really getting us to ask questions of, 'Are the police and Home Office hiding away the true extent to which different communities are affected?'

"What we just want are the answers and then we can do something about it working with government.

"We find the government is just silent on the issue in terms of it doesn't even recognise anti-Sikh hate."

'Police take robust action'

Mr Singh said the Sikh community had felt ignored since the 9/11 attacks in New York City, referencing the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a turban-wearing Sikh man who was killed in the first first hate-crime after the attacks, after being mistakenly profiled as a Muslim.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "British Sikhs make an outstanding contribution to the strength and richness of our society.

"We have zero tolerance for any form of religious hatred, and fully support the police in taking robust action against those who target specific communities.

"Places of worship must be safe and welcoming for all, which is why this government is investing £70.9m in 2025/26 to support the security and peace of mind of those attending religious sites including gurdwaras."