“Bristol is, and always will be, a proud, diverse place where all our communities stand with each other”
Police conducting door to door inquiries at Chakeshill Drive in Brentry after a nine year old girl was shot in a racially-aggravated attack in early September 2025(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The leader of the Labour group at Bristol City Council has described a series of hate crime incidents in Bristol in recent weeks as ‘abhorrent’ and called for ‘every one of the thugs’ to be brought to justice.
Tom Renhard joined condemnation of the incidents, and said the attacks ‘need to end’. In a statement on behalf of Bristol Labour, Cllr Renhard (Lab, Horfield) referenced incidents which saw a nine-year-old girl racially abused and shot with a pellet gun in Brentry, a violent attack on two men in Lawrence Hill and the Islamophobic graffiti on a bus stop in Bedminster.
“These attacks on members of Bristol’s communities are abhorrent and need to end,” he said. “The cowardly actions of a small number of racists are leaving our neighbours anxious in their own city.
“Every one of the thugs behind these incidents needs to be brought to justice. Bristol is, and always will be, a proud, diverse place where all our communities stand with each other,” he added.
“We will call out the appalling actions of the few in our city who seek to cause division and harm. Racism will never be tolerated,” he said.
Politicians from all parties at City Hall have come together to condemn the attacks. In Bedminster, Labour councillor Emily Clarke said: “I’m really saddened to see Islamophobic graffiti in our community. Bedminster is a welcoming community, where people look out for their neighbours regardless of their religion or race.
“The recent increase in hate crime incidents across Bristol is appalling. I understand that many people will be feeling frightened about what is going on and the future. If you have been affected, I encourage you to contact the police and Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) for specialist support,” she added.
Cllr Tom Renhard, (Lab, Horfield) the leader of the opposition Labour group at Bristol City Council(Image: Bristol City Council/YouTube)
Her fellow local councillor Ellie Freeman (Green, Bedminster) said she was ‘disgusted’ by the graffiti. “I’m obviously absolutely disgusted that this has happened,” she said. “This is a diverse and friendly neighbourhood and racism and other forms of hate speech will not be tolerated.
“It is also frustrating and sad that so much anger is being directed at the wrong group of people. This contributes to feelings of worry and threat which is not how we want our community to feel,” she added.
In Brentry, the local councillor Mark Weston, who is also the leader of the Conservative Group at City Hall, condemned the racist attack on a nine-year-old girl. “The community generally are shocked, outraged and disgusted,” he said.
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“Not only are the two attackers despicable scum, they are also cowards too, because they’ve picked on a young child in the school holidays, and that’s despicable. Someone will know who these two are. They’ve carried out this cowardly attack and they need to be brought to justice,” he added.
Last week, a joint statement condemning the rise in hate crime in Bristol was released by the police and crime commissioner and council leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset.
“We are aware of several racially aggravated incidents or crimes reported in Avon and Somerset recently, which you may have seen in the media,” they said. “That is why we want to speak jointly, as your local authority and policing leaders, to reassure every resident that hate has no home in Avon and Somerset.
Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody.(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
“We hear and understand your concerns of the impact of these incidents in the current climate.
“We know that hateful rhetoric is intended to divide our communities and pit neighbours against each-other, but we also know that in Avon and Somerset, we are inclusive and determined that hate will not win.
“Most people in our area treat each other with fairness and respect. Yet, we cannot ignore that a small minority seek to divide us, sometimes misusing national flags or symbols to intimidate or exclude,” they added.