Hate crimes on Merseyside reached record levels in the aftermath of the EU referendum.
Liverpool voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union but a narrow majority swung the outcome in favour of the ‘Leave’ campaign last year.
But a passenger racially abused at Old Roan train station was one of 119 cases of nationwide hate crimes recorded in the fortnight which followed the June 23 vote.
And statistics have revealed that the result saw further hate crimes across the UK soar in the three months after the decision for Brexit was declared on June 24.
477 cases were reported on Merseyside until the end of September 2016 – a 19 per cent increase – in figures which reveal an increase in hate crime throughout the UK.
Three police forces saw over 1,000 hate crimes logged during the three-month period, with London’s Metropolitan (3,356), Greater Manchester (1,033) and West Yorkshire (1,013).
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said that the findings suggested that a small minority had used Brexit “to legitimise inexcusable racism and prejudice”.
Chairman David Isaac said: “The vast majority of people who voted to leave the European Union did so because they believed it was best for Britain and not because they are intolerant of others.
“It is clear, however, that a small minority of people used the Brexit vote to legitimise inexcusable racism and prejudice.
“We cannot allow such intolerable acts of hate to be condoned or repeated.
“The triggering of Article 50 is the next major milestone and we must do all we can to discourage hate attacks and to support people who feel at risk.”