We stand together

By Paul Rees, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association. 

I’m sure that like me, you were shocked and appalled by the racist and Islamophobic violence that brutalised parts of England and Northern Ireland earlier this year. 

The outpouring of violence and aggression – which followed the appalling killings of three little girls in Southport – included attacks on mosques, asylum seekers, people of colour, police and other emergency services. 

People from racialised minorities, across the UK, were left feeling vulnerable and at risk of assault – with many feeling worried about leaving their homes. 

This inevitably included many members of community pharmacy teams. 

Half of all pharmacists are of South Asian heritage, Black or from other ethnic minorities. The majority of independent community pharmacy owners are South Asian. 

Not surprisingly, according to research we did in the aftermath of the rioting, 56% of pharmacy teams felt unsafe, 34% considered closing at times they would normally be open, and 13% experienced racist or Islamophobic abuse. 

Being Black, I know what it is like to experience violent racism. 

As a child in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was chased in the streets by racist gangs. I was violently assaulted at a football match. I was called an N-word by adults while out with friends. I also had to physically defend myself and my friends from racists in the playground and in the streets around my school. 

For people of my generation, the outpouring of racist hatred brought back terrifying memories. For many younger people of colour, this is the first time they may have experienced racist or Islamophobic hatred. 

The NPA is proudly anti-racist. Shortly after Health Secretary Wes Streeting advocated a zero-tolerance approach to racism in the NHS, we issued advice to pharmacies to refuse to serve anyone being abusive, racist or Islamophobic, and to turn them away. 

I spoke about our guidance on BBC 1 London News, BBC Radio London and was quoted in the Guardian, i Newspaper and Daily Telegraph. 

To support our members, we also made new resources available on how to safeguard your pharmacy in the midst of civil disorder.  

It so happens that the violence took place in midst of South Asian Heritage History Month. It is so sad that a month of celebration was tarnished in this way. 

However, I’m pleased to say that, as part of our values-based approach, the NPA held South Asian Heritage Month events for both our staff and our members. 

This enabled people to reflect on the awful events of those weeks – but also spend time celebrating the successes and achievements of people of South Asian heritage who live in, and contribute to, communities across our four UK nations.