HIGH PROFILE anti-racism campaigners visited Redditch during Hate Crime Awareness Week, to talk about the importance of the scheme.
Music producer, songwriter and musician Naughty Boy, former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq and Stuart Lawrence, whose brother Stephen was murdered in London in 1993, have been among those urging everyone to report hate crime.
The event, at Redditch Town Hall, was held to push home the message that hate crime is totally unacceptable and help is available for all victims.
A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your disability, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other perceived difference.
Superintendent Damian Pettit said: “These events told everyone that hate crime has no place in society and we are committed to fully investigating any incidents.
“Put simply, a hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because they think there is something different about you.
“We know that some people affected by hate crime may not feel comfortable reporting an incident directly to police.
“In such cases incidents can be reported via True Vision, an organisation that acts as a third-party reporting centre and allows for relevant information to be passed on to us, subject to permission being granted by the person reporting.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion added: “Being a victim of a hate crime can have a hugely detrimental impact. Being targeted for who you are, sets hate crime and its effects apart from most other types of crime.
“Tackling hate crime needs a community wide approach, and I am proud to invest in awareness, support and education which ultimately help to build confidence in victims and help bring perpetrators to justice.”
If you’ve been affected by hate crime in West Mercia then support is available from the West Mercia Victim Advice Line, by telephone on 0800 9523000, via email at [email protected] and through live chat on victimadviceline.org.uk.
To report a hate crime, visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/ or call 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
If you are not comfortable contacting police directly, contact True Vision by visiting report-it.org.uk.
