Week of action to promote National Hate Crime Awareness Week

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Jane Kennedy with a Stop Hate UK poster

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner is holding a week of action to raise awareness and encourage victims to speak out during National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Working alongside partners including Merseyside Police and Stop Hate UK, Jane Kennedy’s team are carrying out a range of Covid-secure activities across Merseyside to mark the annual event, which runs from October 10th – 17th, and increase awareness of the support that is available, through the PCC’s Victim Care Merseyside services, to anyone affected by hate crime.

The activities include material promoting Stop Hate UK being distributed to businesses in the L8 area, and an information session for students at Liverpool John Moores University to increase their awareness of how to report a hate crime. There will also be Stop Hate UK leaflet drops in areas where hate crime is a known problem, including parts of Huyton, St Helens and Bootle.

During the week, the PCC’s team will be offering training to communities and businesses about how to prevent hate crime, as well as identifying new venues to become independent hate crime reporting centres. There are already more than 90 of these venues across Merseyside, where victims can get help to contact Stop Hate UK in a safe environment.Stop Hate UK logo

Stop Hate UK have been funded by the PCC for the last six years. They provide a 24hour helpline service for all victims of hate crime, offering support and signposting to counselling as well as providing means of reporting hate crime for anyone who does not feel comfortable speaking to the police. The PCC also funds three specialist hate crime services delivered by local charities the Anthony Walker Foundation, Daisy Inclusive UK and Citizens Advice Liverpool. They provide support to victims of hate crime motivated by race and religion, disability and LGBTI-related hate crime respectively.

Videos promoting the services offered by these three charities will be shared throughout the week. The details of Stop Hate UK and Crimestoppers will be promoted throgh the website of partner agencies, such as the local authorities and Merseyside Fire and Rescue to encourage anyone affected by hate crime to get help anonymously and in confidence.

Jane said: “I am pleased to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week. Crimes motivated by hate have no place here. This annual week of awareness raising is an important opportunity to stand together with our communities to reject hate and intolerance of any kind.

“Merseyside is home to people of all races and faiths, to people of all sexual orientations and genders and to people of all abilities. We are all made stronger by this rich and vibrant Image of Victim Care Merseyside websitediversity.

“Nobody should be subject to abuse, fear or hatred simply because of who they are and even one victim of hate crime, is one victim too many. I am committed to raising awareness of this insidious and harmful crime, encouraging anyone affected to ask for help and ensuring all our residents can live free from fear. I hope this week of activity will give more victims the confidence to talk about their experiences and get the support they need.”

National Hate Crime Awareness Week runs from 10th to 17th October. It aims to bring people together to stand in solidarity with those affected by hate crime, to remember those we have lost, and support those who need ongoing support.

If you have been affected by hate crime, contact Merseyside Police on 101 or on twitter @MerPolCC or alternatively contact independent charity Stop Hate UK 24/7 on 0800 138 1625.

For help and support visit www.stophateuk.org or www.VictimCareMerseyside.org for the details of organisations that can offer guidance and support.