UK charities face ‘culture of fear’ as threats and violence surge

Exclusive: Charity Commission chief condemns public hostility towards staff helping women and refugees and at places of worship

A surge in death and rape threats and harassment has created a culture of fear" at charities serving women and refugees, and at mosques, churches and synagogues, the head of the Charity Commission has warned.

Mark Simms said he feared growing hostility towards charity staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, both online and on the streets, was becoming normalised and risked eroding civilised values and norms British society once took for granted.