New ‘Migrant Myth Busters’ Leaflet Launched to Tackle Misinformation and Rising Hate Crime

A powerful new online resource designed to challenge misinformation and promote understanding about migration has been launched today by the North East Migration Partnership, in collaboration with the offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners for Durham, Cleveland, and Northumbria.

The Migrant Myth Busters leaflet directly addresses common myths about asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, providing clear, evidence-based facts on issues ranging from welfare, employment, crime,and housing. It also includes up-to-date UK and regional statistics to help communities better understand the realities of migration.

This launch comes at a time when reports of hate crime are on the rise across the region. Latest figures show:

• Northumbria has seen a 5% increase in overall hate crime reports over the past year.
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• Durham has experienced a 7.2% year-on-year rise in hate crime reports, as of the end of September 2025.
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• Cleveland saw a 17% increase in 2024 with 1,795 reported hate crime in the area compared to 1,534 the year before. It was noted that the figures had been influenced by the period of violent disorder during the summer of 2024.
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Police and Crime Commissioners Joy Allen (for Durham), Matt Storey (for Cleveland), and Susan Dungworth (for Northumbria) have jointly backed the initiative, which they say is urgently needed to dispel harmful myths and reduce community tensions.

Key facts from the leaflet include:

• There is no evidence to suggest that migrants increase crime.
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• The UK ranked 17th in Europe for asylum applications per capita in 2021.
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• Migrants contribute an estimated £341,000 more to public finances than they take over their lifetime.
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• Asylum seekers are less likely to claim benefits than UK-born individuals.

The leaflet also addresses legal barriers faced by asylum seekers, such as being unable to work while awaiting decisions, and clarifies that migrants are less likely to access social housing than those born in the UK.

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen said; “We know that misinformation fuels fear and can lead to hate crime. Tackling hate crime is one of the key priorities in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan under ‘Safer People, Safer Places’. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe and respected, regardless of their background. This initiative is about stopping harmful narratives in their tracks and promoting compassion and truth across our region.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Time and time again online and in the media we’re all being fed harmful myths. All this incorrect information isn’t just misinforming us, it’s dividing us too.

“We know education is the key to building stronger, safer communities across the North East and we want to reach as many people as possible with the factual information in this leaflet.

“We came together on this project because we all want to set the record straight – replace the fiction with the facts - and hate with understanding.”

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: "This myth buster is crucial to ensuring that the public have the facts about immigration and asylum in the North East. There is so much disinformation, particularly on social media, which pushes false, negative messages with no basis in fact.

"We must do all we can to get the reality of the situation regarding immigration into the public domain and challenge those divisive voices. Minority communities in our region need to know they have advocates like us who will speak out and defend them as we try to foster tolerance over division." 

A digital version of the leaflet is now available on the PCCs’ websites.

To learn more, scan the QR code on the leaflet or visit the North East Migration Partnership website.

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