Vigilantes 'Toxic rhetoric could lead to more violence'

The vitriol faced by Scouts and charity rowers mistaken for migrants was not an "innocent mistake", a race equality campaigner has said, as she warned toxic rhetoric could lead to more violence and vigilantism.

- Jessica Murray Peter Walker

A wave of recent anti-migrant protests outside asylum hotels has been followed by growing reports of vigilantism, with people facing abuse after being mistaken for migrants.

Police have launched an investigation into an incident at a Scout camp in Wales, where children were allegedly filmed and subjected to racial abuse amid unfounded speculation the site was being used to house immigrants.

Last week, the MP Rupert Lowe was accused of being part of a vigilante effort after he reported a charity rowing crew he mistakenly thought were possible "illegal migrants".

"We're in a really dangerous situation and the government really needs to step up to the challenge," said Dr Shabna Begum, the chief executive of the Runnymede Trust.