The number of people charged by police with racially aggravated offences rose by 28% last year, figures have shown....

Ken Macdonald QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said fears of a backlash after the London bombs were unfounded.

He said: "After the 7 July bombings it was feared that there would be a significant backlash against the Muslim community and that we would see a large rise in religiously-aggravated offences....

He said although there were more cases in July 2005 than for any other month, the rise did not continue into August. [Link]