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National Hate Crime Awareness Week is running from 14-21 October across the UK, with the aim of shining a light on the scourge of hate crime. The week-long campaign founded in 2009, encourages Government, the Police, local councils, charities, and communities affected by hate incidents, to work together to tackle local hate crime across the UK. According to the organisers, 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.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin has given the campaign his full backing and is taking part in a series of events to mark the week and to engage with different communities across the region affected by hate crime.
- On Monday, the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is helping to organise an event on ‘Understanding Hate Crime and Vulnerability in North Wales’. During this online discussion, Andy Dunbobbin will join with the Wales Hate Support Centre at Victim Support, Show Racism the Red Card, and the North Wales Community Cohesion Teams to share insights from services working in North Wales, particularly with disabled people.
- On Tuesday, the PCC is speaking to Professional Policing degree students at Wrexham University where he will emphasise the importance of the Hate Crime Awareness Week campaign and the role of the police in challenging Hate Crime.
- Wednesday sees the PCC joining North Wales Police’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team on the number 12 bus between Llandudno and Rhyl as part of a bus surgery initiative to engage with local communities and to understand their concerns around hate crime.
- On Friday morning, the PCC will be at Hawarden High School alongside the Cyber Crime team of North Wales Police to speak to students, highlighting hate crime online and young people’s experiences of these types of offences.
- Friday afternoon sees the PCC visit Holyhead for a walk around the town with local councillors and North Wales Police. The PCC will discuss anti-social behaviour and other forms of crime in the area and to understand efforts being made to tackle offences in Anglesey’s largest town.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “Hate Crime Awareness Week is a crucial way of highlighting the damage that hate can inflict on communities and I would encourage anyone who has suffered a hate incident to report it, so we can act on it. Hate crime particularly affects disabled people, black and minority ethnic people and LGBTQ+ people and, while this week’s campaign only lasts seven days, the wider campaign to challenge Hate Crime lasts all year. I am determined to see a North Wales where Hate Crime has no place.”
PC Richard Fishlock, Diversity Officer/Hate Crime Officer in North Wales Police’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team said: “North Wales Police are committed to supporting victims of hate crime which we do alongside our partners at Victim Support and other support services. It is also important to remember that North Wales Police will do all we can to tackle offenders and offending behaviour. We take hate crime seriously and do everything in our power to ensure offenders are held accountable and brought to justice.”
A hate incident is one in which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.
If you need to report a hate crime you can contact North Wales Police by calling 101 (if you are in North Wales) or for information on other ways to report (including third party and anonymous reporting) go to the North Wales Police website. Further information about hate crime can be found on the equality pages of the Force website. Reports can be made to police via third party reporting agencies like Victim Support. These agencies assist those who would prefer not to deal directly with Police.
Remember if it’s an emergency always dial 999. Hate Crime is wrong. Don’t suffer in silence. Report it.