PCC Vera Baird QC gives full support to Hate Crime Awareness Week
11th October 2016
Being you is not a crime, targeting you is – that’s the message from Northumbria Police and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, during National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week runs between Saturday October 8 –Saturday October 15 and Northumbria Police is holding a series of events and initiatives based around Hate Crime.
The aim is to raise awareness around what hate crime is, the work that police and partners do to tackle it and the support that is out there for victims of hate crime.
A crime is considered to be a hate crime if someone has been targeted because of a protected characteristic, these include: race, faith, religion, disability, gender identity, age or sexual orientation.
Anyone can report a hate crime – victims, families, carers or someone unrelated to a victim who has been witness to an incident.
Northumbria Police works with groups from across the region to raise awareness in hate crime all year round. Activity this week includes; Attending community meetings, holding drop in sessions, running education inputs at schools, holding a social media Q+A sessions and taking part in local activities and initiatives.
Vera Baird QC, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “I give my 100 per cent full support to Hate Crime Awareness Week. There’s no place in our society for intolerance and prejudice and let’s be clear – it will certainly not be tolerated by Northumbria Police.
“This week is all about engaging with all members of all our communities, to raise awareness and highlight all the support that is on offer throughout the force area.
“It really is important that all victims have the confidence to report hate crimes, if not to the police, to one of our partners.
“My message to anyone suffering any form of prejudice or discrimination is to speak up. Nobody should suffer alone – help is at hand.”
Northumbria Police Detective Chief Inspector Deborah Alderson, from Northumbria Police ‘s safeguarding unit, explains: “Targeting anyone because of who they are is not acceptable – this is a hate crime.
“If you have been hurt, threatened, abused, harassed or intimidated or suffered any other crime because of your Race, Faith, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Age or Gender Identity, this is Hate Crime.
“Report hate crime to the police, or if you prefer confidentially via a third party reporting scheme such as a Safe Reporting Centre, True Vision or Arch.
“If you are the carer of a disabled person or one of your family members is disabled and you are hurt, threatened, abused, harassed or intimidated or suffer any other crime because of a prejudice or hostility based on this individuals disability this is also a Hate Crime. You must report it.
“Hate Crime is an issue that we take incredibly seriously as a force and we can not underestimate the impact it has on victims. We absolutely support National Hate Crime Awareness Week and will taking part in many activities this week with our partners and the community to help raise awareness in what is a very serious issue.”
Any Hate Crime can be reported at Safe Reporting Centres across the force area. Full details of Safe Reporting Centres are detailed on Northumbria Police website.
Hate crime can be reported to police using 101 in a non-emergency or 999 in an emergency.
Hate crime can also be reported through non-police agencies such as True Vision (http://report-it.org.uk/home) or ARCH.
Further information on Hate Crime is available on Northumbria Police website. For more information about National Hate Crime Awareness Week follow @NorthumbriaPol #StopHate #Weallstandtogether #NHCAW.
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