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National Hate Crime Awareness Week is running from 12-19 October across the UK to highlight the issue of hate crime across the UK. 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. This year it’s key focus is highlighting Anti-LGBT+ Hate Crime. According to the organisers, the campaign 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 holding a series of events to mark the week and to engage with different communities across the region affected by hate crime.
In North-West Wales, the PCC joined a meeting of the Unique Transgender Network in Bangor. This is a voluntary group supporting Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Diverse people across North Wales. Unique's prime aim is to assist members in their gender identity journey, by signposting good information, promoting inclusion by service providers and gaining acceptance in the wider community. Members of Bangor University’s LGBT+ group also joined the event where the PCC discussed the impact of hate crime in affecting the communities served by Unique and how agencies can work together to combat the issue.
In North-East Wales, the PCC visited ClwydAlyn Housing Association’s ICAN Centre in Rhyl to meet the team and learn more about their work. The visit was an opportunity to discuss the efforts undertaken by ClwydAlyn to combat hate crime, which can sometimes arise from neighbour disputes, as well as hate incidents towards homeless people that the organisation helps to support and provide homes for. The ICAN Centre is a valuable resource to the local community and it offers a mental health wellbeing service to those in need of emotional and physical support and work with a number of local support services and agencies. During the visit, the PCC met Lynda Williams, Supported Living Manager - Conwy/Denbighshire; Brendan McWhinnie, Housing Manager; and Hannah Burton, Specialist Intervention Officer. A large amount of work has been done by both Brendan and Hannah to address any type of antisocial behaviour issue that might arise, including hate crime, and to look at alternative solutions.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “This Hate Crime Awareness Week, I have been privileged to meet members of our rich and diverse communities across North Wales and to reflect not only on the positive work achieved in combatting Hate Crime, but also on the hard work that we all have to drive out hate.
“This type of crime has no place in North Wales and I am determined to show victims that I stand with them, and to say to perpetrators that their prejudice will not be tolerated. I am proud of the work being done by North Wales Police, in partnership with organisations like those I have met across North Wales, to reach out to our local communities. I would encourage anyone who has suffered Hate Crime to report it, so the Police can act on it.”
Jenny-Anne Bishop OBE from the Unique Transgender Network commented: “It’s really important that the PCC visits our diverse communities to hear the victims explain how Hate Crime has individually affected them. Andy Dunbobbin reassured us that he understands just how devastating hate crime is. That it is given a high priority by the police, and that such Crimes are vigorously prosecuted, whilst treating the victims with sensitivity and respect, and keeping them informed. North Wales Police also offer individualised support to victims through referral to the North Wales Victim Help Centre provided by Victim Support and supported by the PCC.”
Mrs Bishop continued: “It’s also important that where appropriate Restorative Justice is used to make the victim feel more empowered through the perpetrator realising the effects of their crime. Long term we would like to see a more proactive approach from the Welsh Government and the Criminal Justice System by commissioning further research into why people commit Hate Crimes, and using it to prevent such crimes and hate incidents happening.”
Hannah Burton, Specialist Intervention Officer at ClwydAlyn, said: “ClwydAlyn is committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and we are working hard to raising awareness, both in our organisation and the communities where we work, of the steps that anyone should take if they are a victim of, or a witness to, a hate crime. This includes embedding our Resident Concern Policy across the organisation and working in partnership with other agencies such as the Police and Victim Support so that we can ensure we are signposting people to the best sources of help and support.
“We are delighted to be working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to share more about the work taking place at the ICAN Centre and the approach that we take to combatting hate crime. This is a really important part of our commitment to ensuring that we create an inclusive workplace and communities where everyone can feel safe and valued.”
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 Advice and Information section 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.