Overseas care workers in the UK are facing a sharp rise in racist abuse and intimidation, prompting urgent safety steps and warnings from sector leaders as the country’s heated immigration debate intensifies. Industry bodies say incidents have climbed since the summer of 2025, with reports of verbal attacks, spitting, and threats both on and off duty.
Some staff say they feel “frightened to get out of their cars,” and employers are telling teams to stick together, carry alarms, and stay alert when traveling to and from shifts.
Who is speaking up and why it matters
The National Care Association (NCA), which represents around 5,000 providers, and Skills for Care, the workforce body, have condemned the surge in abuse and called for stronger protection for international staff. They stress that overseas care workers are a lifeline for services that struggle to fill posts.
- Around 32% of the adult social care workforce comes from global majority backgrounds, according to sector leaders.
- This underlines how depended the UK’s care system is on migrant workers to keep services running.
National context and statistics
Home Office data for the year ending March 2025 shows a wider rise in hate crimes.
- 115,990 hate crimes were recorded in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police), a 6% increase on the previous year.
- 84,374 of these were racially or religiously aggravated crimes.
- Where victim ethnicity was known: 33% of victims were Asian and 23% were Black, indicating a disproportionate impact on minority groups.
These official figures mirror frontline reports of abuse in public spaces, hostility while off duty, and discriminatory behaviour from patients or clients. The cumulative result harms mental health and is prompting some staff to consider leaving their jobs—or the UK altogether.
“If the current climate continues, more international recruits may leave the UK,” warn care leaders, adding that this would further strain services already struggling with high vacancy rates and growing care needs.
For further definitions and the full dataset, see the Home Office collection: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hate-crime-statistics
Escalation in abuse and immediate sector response
Providers report a marked escalation in both frequency and severity since mid-2025. Common frontline experiences include:
- Being shouted at or spat on in the street
- Racially targeted incidents while commuting
- Slurs or threats during home visits
Managers say staff who work night shifts or travel alone feel especially exposed. In response, care leaders are advising practical steps to reduce risks.
Key practical steps recommended:
1. Travel in racially mixed groups when possible, especially at night or in unfamiliar areas.
2. Carry panic alarms and ensure everyone knows how to use them.
3. Stay alert in car parks and around vehicles, and keep supervisors informed of routes and timings.
4. Report all incidents promptly to employers and, where safe, to the police.
The NCA and Skills for Care have urged providers to back staff who report abuse, adopt zero-tolerance policies, and work closely with local police. Professional bodies, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, have called for solidarity and firm action against racism.
Practical measures employers are using now
Employers are moving quickly to protect staff and keep services stable. Measures under discussion or already in place include:
- Buddy systems for community visits, with supervisors tracking check-ins
- Safer commute plans, including taxi support for late shifts and designated meeting points
- Incident logging and rapid escalation, enabling managers to liaise with police where needed
- Mental health support, including counselling and peer groups
- Training for managers to handle reports of abuse with speed and sensitivity
Providers are also encouraged to:
– Work with local authorities and police to address hotspot areas
– Share intelligence between providers to spot patterns
– Document incidents to support risk assessments and any necessary police action
Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests providers that document incidents and act swiftly tend to retain more international staff, because workers can see complaints lead to concrete steps.
Human impact and workforce implications
The broader risk is system-wide. If overseas care workers reduce hours, switch sectors, or leave the country due to abuse, the UK will struggle further to meet care needs.
- Recruitment pipelines and training take time.
- Losing experienced carers means losing trust and continuity for clients who value familiar faces.
- Consequences will fall on older people, disabled adults, and families who depend on daily visits and steady support.
Workers are making hard choices:
– Some weigh relocating within the UK to areas they feel are safer.
– Others consider leaving the UK entirely if conditions do not improve.
Staff say they want clear signals from employers, local leaders, and national figures that racism will not be tolerated, that offenders will face consequences, and that the country values the people who provide intimate, often exhausting care.
What providers are asking staff to do now
Providers are focused on practical safety and clear communication. They advise staff to:
- Report abuse, no matter how small it seems, so patterns can be tracked
- Plan routes and share them with supervisors
- Stay in contact during visits and trust instincts if something feels wrong
They also remind clients and families that care workers have the right to a safe workplace, including in private homes.
Key takeaway and call to action
The message from the sector is simple: address the hate, back the workers, and protect the services.
- The Home Office data sets out the scale of the problem; daily stories from care teams show its human cost.
- International staff came to the UK to fill roles that keep people safe and supported.
- They deserve the same safety and respect in return.
This Article in a Nutshell
Since mid-2025 the UK has seen a notable rise in racist abuse and intimidation targeting overseas care workers, with reports of verbal attacks, spitting and threats both in public and during home visits. Industry bodies such as the National Care Association and Skills for Care warn this surge endangers staff wellbeing and threatens service continuity; approximately 32% of the adult social care workforce is from global majority backgrounds. Home Office data to March 2025 recorded 115,990 hate crimes, a 6% increase year-on-year, including 84,374 racially or religiously aggravated offences. Providers are implementing practical safeguards—mixed-group travel, panic alarms, safer-commute plans, buddy systems, incident logging, mental health support and liaison with police—and asking staff to report incidents promptly. Leaders call for zero-tolerance policies, stronger protection, and coordinated public and police responses to retain essential migrant staff and protect vulnerable service users.
