Hate crime does not belong here
27.10.24
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Merseyside
Merseyside's Police Commissioner reflects on the 'Hate Crime Together' conference and the importance of tackling hate at the earliest opportunity in her latest blog.
Emily Spurrell said:
New figures show that racial and religious hate crime has risen by 25% in the past year across England and Wales.
While thankfully, we haven’t seen the same increase here in Merseyside, we know sadly some of our communities still live in fear, nervous to go about their daily lives.
In the summer, we saw how those who seek to sow hatred and division are willing to use lies and misinformation to bring violence and disorder to our streets.
That’s why we must be focused on doing everything possible to tackle hate in all its forms and why we held the ‘Hate Crime Together’ conference, bringing more than 120 professionals together to look at the events that led to the recent riots.
Some of the personal stories shared at the event show how far we still have to go - an Anfield mum recounting how scared she felt when targeted with racial abuse while in a park with her children.
A Sefton man subjected to vicious taunts in the streets due to his disability following a brain injury.
Deeply upsetting accounts of people who have suffered right here at the hands of that ignorant minority here who peddle hate.
This will not be tolerated, and Merseyside Police will take action when hate crimes occur.
Merseyside Police has dedicated Hate Crime Co-ordinators who lead teams of specially trained officers. The teams monitor, assess and investigate hate crimes across Merseyside, ensuring that victims are supporting throughout the process, and do everything in their power to ensure that offenders are put before the courts.
But critical to the conversation is how we can tackle these hate-fuelled attitudes.
At the heart of this work, must be education.
That’s why I’m proud to work with the Anthony Walker Foundation, who do inspiring work educating and empowering our young people to challenge prejudice and stereotypes.
We’re also investing £100,000 which has been seized from criminal into projects to tackle hate crime.
By doing so, our aim is to turn bad money into good and put this cash back where it belongs – into our communities to bring them closer together.
If you’ve been affected by hate, contact Merseyside Police on social media @MerPolCC or call 101.
Alternatively if you don't feel comfortable to speaking to the police, you can call independent charity Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625 or get support at:www.stophateuk.org
More support
Through the Victim Care Merseyside service, the Commissioner also funds three dedicated hate crime support services to help victims of hate crime on Merseyside.
In recognition of the potentially damaging consequences of hate crime, each service is tailored to a different ‘strand’ of hate crime, to ensure victims of racial hate crime, sexuality and gender identity-based hate crime and people subjected to hate because of a disability all receive specialist support according to their need.
