UK Riots | BASW & SWU Statement
BASW and SWU condemn in the strongest possible terms the appalling acts of violence, disorder and racism that have terrorised communities across the country in recent days.
Stoked by disinformation spread by far-right agitators, attacks have been targeted towards citizens of diverse faiths, Muslims, asylum seekers, immigrants, and other minority groups.
In addition, these abhorrent attacks have impacted upon members of the public that have wanted to protect places of worship and homes. This violence and disorder has caused huge damage and fear amongst our diverse communities. The justice system must act swiftly to protect all communities and ensure those responsible and those who have committed crimes are held to account, including employers and regulators taking action against those involved inciting violence and hatred.
Social workers stand for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. This orchestrated and manipulated demonstration of street violence and hatred must not be conflated with the need to tackle exclusion, inequality and disaffection which social workers know only too well.
Nobody in our country should be harmed, threatened, abused, or made to feel unwelcome based on their race, religion, nationality, other protected characteristics, or place of birth. We must call out, challenge and stand united against Islamophobia and all forms of racism and ethnoreligious hatred.
BASW proposed a motion passed at the International Federation of Social Workers global meeting in April 2024 deploring the rise of populism, authoritarianism and racism in politics across the world. The experiences of the last few days show the importance of this commitment within the UK just as elsewhere in the world.
It has been heartening to witness the outpouring of compassion, kindness and love shown by the vast majority of people in affected towns towards friends and neighbours who have been the victims of these attacks and will understandably be feeling vulnerable and frightened just now. Together, we will continue to amplify our support to you and stand in solidarity at this difficult time.
We also thank social workers and our emergency services who have shown remarkable courage, care, and professionalism to keep our communities safe. We know that social workers will continue to be involved in these efforts, directly supporting individuals and families affected. Please see BASW's Social Work in Disasters resources for specific guidance and practice support.
If anyone who has been affected requires further support, please contact BASW’s Professional Support Service. You can also contact our Advice and Representation Service for free.
