Fears that 'toxic hate' could escalate unrest

A CHINESE woman pushed off her bike, social care workers told to "go home" and black schoolchildren verbally abused on a school trip are all examples to show how hate and racism towards refugees and asylum seekers in Wales has reached "a level of toxicity".

- RUTH MOSALSKI

The examples were given during research into social cohesion in Wales by a Senedd committee, which heard from experts who said frontline workers fear for their own safety and the safety of people they support.

There is a warning that without intervention, the "tinderbox of discontent" could spill over into civil unrest.

The Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) which has offices in Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham, said: "Whilst discriminatory, racist, antimigrant sentiments have always existed, we worry these have been on the rise.

"In Wales there have been four separate incidents in the last three years."

It references protests in Llantwit Major about housing Ukrainian refugees, the protests and wider situation at the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli in spring and summer 2023, the August 2024 riots, and the social media attacks on their charity in Decem ber 2023 and January 2025.

Wales' Safer Communities Network said: "Whilst Wales did not see the level of race-related hate that many communities across the UK witnessed following the Southport attacks, our communities have certainly felt the impact.

"Many have reported incidents of discrimination and noted feeling the need to justify their sense of belonging within their education setting, workplace, or just as part of their community."

The WRC said 56 per cent of its staff said in the last year they feel less safe in Wales.