A Labour-run council has declared it wrong to suggest migrants originate from “cultures that don’t respect women”, asserting such claims “reinforce harmful stereotypes”.
Liverpool Council published a webpage amid growing public concern over sexual offences committed by foreign nationals.
According to the council’s guidance, there exists “no causal link between asylum seeker populations and increased levels of violence against women and girls”.
In contrast, analysis conducted by the Centre for Migration Control last year found foreign nationals were arrested for sexual offences at three times the rate of British citizens.
The figures showed approximately 165 arrests per 100,000 migrants, compared with 48 per 100,000 among the British population.
The council’s newly launched webpage maintains that violence against women and girls “occurs in every society, at every income level and across all cultural and religious groups”.
It states: “Suggesting that certain backgrounds make people more likely to commit violence is not supported by evidence and reinforces harmful stereotypes”.
GB News revealed thousands of illegal migrants were lying about their age to gain asylum in Britain | GETTY
The guidance further argues that gender, rather than nationality or cultural background, represents “the strongest predictor of violence against women and girls”, noting men constitute the majority of perpetrators globally.
Yet analysis of freedom of information responses by The Telegraph uncovered troubling patterns – that sexual offence convictions among foreign nationals rose by 62 per cent over a four-year period.
National statistics on crimes committed by non-British citizens remain unavailable from official sources.
Sexual offences involving foreign nationals have faced heightened scrutiny following the case of Hadush Kebatu.
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Liverpool City Council shoots down claim migrants originate from ‘cultures that don’t respect women’
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GETTYThe Ethiopian asylum seeker carried out sexual assaults on a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping just eight days after his arrival in Britain last year.
Kebatu was subsequently released from prison in error, before being recaptured and removed from the country.
Liverpool Council’s page also addresses concerns that asylum seekers receive housing priority over homeless British citizens, stating “one crisis should not be used to dismiss the other”.
Residents worried about those “pretending to be refugees to get free stuff” are told: “Most people seeking asylum are fleeing war, torture or persecution. They want safety, dignity and a chance to rebuild their lives”.
The council’s rhetoric forms part of a broader decade-long anti-racism strategy pledging to combat “disinformation and misinformation at every level”.
Liverpool has committed to creating what it describes as a “race-literate city where inclusive narratives strengthen trust and belonging”.
The authority has promised to roll out “fact-check hubs and social media myth-busting campaigns” to ensure “divisive stories no longer fuel hostility”.
Last year, the council vowed to “challenge racial misinformation” and ensure “ethnic and racial diversity are celebrated as a source of strength”.
Guidance on the webpage urges residents encountering questionable claims to “share the truth and help others see beyond the headlines”.