Mayor condemns spread of 'online hatred'

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness appeared in the BBC Radio Newcastle hot seat

The North East Mayor has said she understands people have concerns about illegal immigration, but condemned the spread of "online hatred".

Kim McGuinness told BBC Radio Newcastle's Hot Seat decisions should be made more quickly to send people back who did not have a right to stay in the UK.

However, immigration could be a positive influence and communities should work together, she said.

The riots in Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough last summer were "not what our region is about", she added.

The government recently announced that the search for new accommodation to house asylum seekers in north-east England had been paused.

The Home Office said it believed it currently had sufficient capacity in the region, which houses the highest proportion of asylum seekers relative to population in the UK.

McGuinness said she agreed with pausing the search as housing people in hotels was "not ideal", either for those placed there or those living nearby.

• Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

"Decisions should be made quicker so that people who are here illegally, who don't have the right to stay, are being sent back quicker," she said.

"I think that's really important. There are some real positives about immigration...real positive influences in the community.

"But there are real and understandable concerns about illegal immigration and I am glad to see the government is taking action."

'Positive messages'

She condemned the "spread of online hatred and disinformation...being stoked by people who have quite a big platform".

"I think it's crucial we address this head on and say 'it isn't OK to spread disinformation and online hatred'," she said.

"People have genuine concerns, I really understand that, the government does need to take action, but what we must not confuse is that concern and people translating it into violence.

"What saw in the riots in the streets last year is not what our region is about and I never want to see that again."

She cited Sunderland City Council working with mosques and the community to bring about social cohesion as a positive example.

"There is a huge amount of work going on...to spread those positive messages and help people understand each other better and I think that's been a really positive thing," she said.

"We can all accept peace on our streets."