by Jess Horn – community development officer at South Holland District Council
This month will see Hate Crime Awareness Week take place and our team is keen to spread the word.
Research suggests that over 80 per cent of hate crimes are not reported to the police.
We want to raise awareness of this project and do what we can to help reduce that figure.
Our team is pleased and excited to be working in partnership across the county to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week which runs from this Saturday (Oct 10) to Saturday, October 17.
The purpose of the week is to tackle issues by raising awareness of what hate crime is and how to respond to it, encourage reporting, and promote local support services and resources.
We want to encourage working in partnership with local groups and community organisations in the week leading up to the International Day of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by hate crime.
So what exactly is it? A hate crime is a crime that the victim or any other person perceives to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards any aspect of a person’s identity.
Police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland annually monitor five strands of hate crime – disability, gender identity, race, ethnicity or nationality, religion, faith or belief and sexual orientation.
A hate incident is any incident, which may or may not be a crime, in which the victim or any other person perceives to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards any aspect of a person’s identity.
Reporting a hate crime or incident is simple, dial free 24 hours a day on 0800 1381625.
