Warsaw's embassy in the United Kingdom has issued a statement expressing its shock and concern at the sudden rise in xenophobic hate crimes committed against the Polish community living in Britain. It comes in the wake of Thursday's referendum decision to leave the EU.
In a statement shared on the embassy's official Twitter account, it said: “We are shocked and deeply concerned by the recent incidents of xenophobic abuse directed against the Polish community and other UK residents of migrant heritage.
“The Polish Embassy is in contact with relevant institutions, and local police and already investigating the two most widely reported cases in Hammersmith, London, and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.”
“We call on all Polish nationals who fall victim of xenophobic abuse and non all witnesses to report such incidents to local authorities.”
Police are investigating a number of reports of hate crimes and racial abuse in the wake of Britain’s Brexit vote.
Several people have also posted self-reported incidents on social media, prompting the emergence of new online campaigns to document the racist incidents.
Cambridgeshire Police is investigating hateful notes which were allegedly posted through letterboxes of Polish residents in the UK.
Police say the leaflets, which read “Leave the EU. No more Polish vermin” were found in the town Friday.
The laminated leaflets, printed in both Polish and English, were posted through letterboxes as well as left on car windows near a school, according to the Hunts Post.