1. Brexit and the Polish ‘community’ in the North of England
Ian Fitzgerald and Rafał Smoczyński
Northumbria University and the Polish Academy of Sciences

2. Introduction
As stated we carried out a study in 2013:
Used same access through Polish community activists, Polenews, Polish language websites;
Result 110 questionnaire respondents in Polish [between November to December 2016];
35 semi-structured interviews [March 2017];
Respondents concentrated in Leeds, Hull, Newcastle;

3. Context – Pre-Referendum
The government ‘Action against hate’
…focuses on five areas for … Government and community partners to … tackle hate crime:
Preventing hate crime by dealing with the beliefs and attitudes that can lead to hate crime…[and the] discrimination and divisions within our society (Home Office, 2016: 21 our emphasis)

4. Context – Pre-Referendum
A broad sketch of Britains policy debate on race and migration: 2011 – summer 2016
Burnett (2016)

5. The questionnaire – Brexit
Respondent response to Brexit (73 – 66% considered UK home [H]):
No, I don’t want to integrate with them. It’s a very insincere nation, however very nice. But very hypocritical… – victim of continuing xenophobia
I feel worse [since Brexit] so I plan to go back – [H] + victim of continuing xenophobia
A Big Mystery: Brexit influences our daily life, work, salaries, our stay here. I feel not welcome here… – [H] + victim of Brexit xenophobia
I am afraid of bad social atmosphere
– [H] + victim of xenophobia
Some British started to show their real face.… without any scruples – [H] + victim of continuing xenophobia
I feel the English expect we should walk looking down – victim of continuing xenophobia
I am disappointed …so much hate, aggression, intolerance in the country which popularises rules about equality, freedom, respect for the law. Equality Act 2010 is a fiction, a piece of paper – [H] + victim of continuing xenophobia

6. The questionnaire – Xenophobia
Overall 57 (52%) identified that they were victims of hate crime:-
24 (42%) only experienced xenophobia after Referendum –
22 (39%) noted this was continuing xenophobia –
11 (19%) victims of xenophobia.
Somebody damaged my car. They probably knew that I was foreigner. – victim of continuing xenophobia
I was in the big mall where one man came to us. He told me I should go back to my country. – [H] + victim of Brexit xenophobia
our window has been smashed... – [H] + victim of Brexit xenophobia
They ask when I will go back to Poland because there is no place for us now. – victim of continuing xenophobia
They say constantly: “We have regained our Country. You will go back to Poland very soon” – [H] + victim of Brexit xenophobia

7. The questionnaire – Anxiety
How were respondents dealing with Brexit?:
Before Brexit I had a clear goal. Now I have nothing and I don't know what will happen – [H] + victim of xenophobia
…I feel bad. I try not to think about [Brexit] every day, because, actually, my personal life has not changed – [H]
…after the referendum results I regret I came here, the British showed their real character …I’m afraid sometimes about my kids – [H] + victim of Brexit xenophobia
I came quite recently so I'm afraid of work and treatment – [H] + victim of continuing xenophobia
27 (24%) noted some form of anxiety and of these:-
20 (74%) considered UK home -
11 (41%) victims of Brexit xenophobia –
5 (18%) victim of continuing xenophobia –
3 (11%) victim of xenophobia.
I am afraid that the attitude towards Poles will change. What about a job, prices and - last but not least – if I will be able to stay here? - [H]

8. The interviews and questionnaire – Anxiety
Respondent anxiety occurred in three main ways:
1. A deteriorating UK economy, due to Brexit, leads to indigenous insecurity. This then leads to hostile attitudes towards Poles who “steal our jobs” or “abuse NHS”;
2. A general insecurity with regard to their UK futures. Therefore some considered leaving the UK, not now buying homes, avoiding expanding their business, or developing education and skills;
3. News in the mass and social media on hate crime and speech has created an over-sensitiveness towards actual xenophobia by some Poles. This then constrains integration and leads to apathy and alienation.