Tell Mama loses state funding despite rise of anti-Muslim hate

Police warn that cut will hamper ability to protect communities

- Lizzie Dearden

The government is cutting all funding for the Islamophobia reporting service Tell Mama, leaving it facing closure weeks after it revealed a record number of anti-Muslim hate incidents in Britain.

Since its foundation in 2012, Tell Mama has been wholly funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to run its reporting service, which received almost 11,000 reports in 2023-4, and support victims of Islamophobia.

Now it has informed Tell Mama that no grant will be provided from the end of this month, and has not given details of any alternative provision.

Police sources raised alarm over the probable impact of the cut, saying information provided by Tell Mama under a data sharing agreement signed in 2015 has been "invaluable" for monitoring tensions and responding to potential threats.

Government funding will stop at the end of this financial year, weeks after Tell Mama said it received 10,700 reports last year, of which 9,600 were verified, showing street-based incidents on the rise and a sharp increase in online activity after the Southport attack and ensuing riots.