The London Hate Crime Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) is an independent group that brings together organisations and community representatives to help shape how London responds to hate crime. Funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), and coordinated by Protection Approaches its primary role is to inform and influence the decisions, oversight, and day-to-day practice of MOPAC and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). It plays a vital role in ensuring that the voices of those affected by hate crime — and those who support them — directly shape the statutory response.
The group provides a trusted space to raise emerging concerns, highlight systemic issues, and share what is happening on the ground. It helps ensure that policy and operational responses reflect the real experiences of victims and frontline organisations.
The SRG is also a space for collaboration and strengthening practice. Members can share best practice, learn from one another, and engage collectively in wider policy discussions beyond their own organisations. The group supports capacity building across the sector, including access to relevant training and development opportunities that respond to the needs of practitioners and communities.
Members include organisations working to prevent hate crime and support victims across London, as well as individuals from communities targeted by hate crime. Together, they have a direct and meaningful voice in how London’s hate crime response is governed and delivered.
The London Hate Crime SRG was established by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) in response to a clear need: to ensure that London’s hate crime policies and practice are informed by the insight of community-based organisations and people directly affected by hate crime.
Initially convened in 2021 as an open and informal forum, the SRG brought together a broad range of stakeholders to strengthen dialogue between statutory partners and those working on the ground. It created space for community voices, frontline expertise, and lived experience to inform discussions about London’s hate crime response.
From 2022 to 2025, the SRG was coordinated by Equally Ours. During this period, the group developed into a more structured and representative body, strengthening its governance arrangements and clarifying its role in informing policy, oversight, and operational practice.
The SRG is now coordinated by Protection Approaches. We support the continued development of the group as an independent, practitioner- and community-informed mechanism for shaping hate crime prevention and response across London.
The London Hate Crime SRG is funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) but operates independently. Its independence ensures that members can provide constructive challenge, informed scrutiny, and honest insight based on frontline experience.
Protection Approaches coordinates the SRG, providing administrative and strategic support and ensuring delivery of the agreed workplan. We do not determine the group’s positions or priorities; these are shaped by members.
Steering Group
The SRG is guided by a Steering Group of 8–10 organisations or individual members, elected by the wider membership. The Steering Group meets four times per year and works with the coordinator to set the SRG’s workplan, priorities, and focus areas. It ensures the group remains responsive to emerging issues and accountable to its members.
Co-Chairs
Two Co-Chairs are elected by members to provide leadership to the SRG. The Co-Chairs sit on the steering group and represent the group in meetings with policymakers and statutory partners, ensuring that the SRG’s collective voice is clearly and credibly communicated.
For further detail, you can download the SRG Membership and Governance Structure, the Terms of Reference, and an easy-read version of the Membership and Governance Structure on the resources page here.