Hate Crime Awareness Week

The purpose of Hate Crime Awareness Week 12-19 October 2013 is to tackle local hate crime issues by raising awareness of what hate crime is and how to respond to it, encourage reporting, and promote local support services and resources.

Local community partnership Shrewsbury Action Against Racism, in partnership with Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, has produced a film as a means of raising awareness of what hate crime is, so that it can be recognised and reported in communities across Shropshire.  We know that hate crime is under-reported in the county.  We want to raise the number of reported incidents, so that people no longer feel that they have to suffer in silence.

To view the film click here, share it and join the fight against hate crimes in Shropshire.

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:

“Back in 2006 Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police launched our ‘We Won’t Tolerate It’ scheme, which is aimed at addressing all forms of hate crime in Shropshire.  The initiative continues to evolve and grow.  It is vital that we support our most vulnerable people within their local communities, and that they are offered appropriate help and guidance and are signposted to key services.  It is important that we continue to work together to tackle all forms of hate crime.  I am really pleased that Shropshire Council is also supporting West Mercia Police and the advocacy groups such as OSCA, Taking Part and the Shropshire Disability Network involved in the Safe Places Scheme which was launched in July 2013.  Our local businesses also see this as an important area of work and have signed up to this scheme.”

To report a hate crime please call the police non-emergency number 101.