Theresa May tells Polish PM 'hate crime has no place in UK' in wake of attacks

Theresa May has expressed her "deep regret" over attacks on Polish citizens living in the UK in a phone call to her counterpart in Warsaw.

The Prime Minister told Beata Szydlo that "hate crime has no place in UK society", Downing Street said.

The discussions between the two leaders came after Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson held talks with their counterparts on Monday.

Poles have been victims in a series of incidents since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June, including the killing of Arkadiusz Jozwik in Harlow, Essex, and the assault of two Polish men within hours of a vigil following his death.

The Polish Embassy in London said its consuls have intervened 15 times in recent weeks over reports of xenophobic incidents.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister called Prime Minister Szydlo this afternoon to express her deep regret at recent attacks on Polish citizens in the UK.

"Prime Minister Szydlo thanked her for the continuing support of the British authorities and expressed her gratitude that the home secretary and foreign secretary had received their Polish counterparts in London this week to discuss the incidents.

"The prime minister reiterated that hate crime has no place in UK society, highlighting the action that both the Government and the police are taking.

"She updated Prime Minister Szydlo on the UK's new Hate Crime Action Plan and the UK-hosted event at the 26 September OSCE meeting in Warsaw."

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