Adult safeguarding and National Hate Crime Awareness Week – 13-20 October 2018

National Hate Crime Awareness Week,  13-20 October 2018, will raise awareness of what Hate Crime is, encourage reporting, and promote local support services and resources.

The Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Board are supporting the week and increasing awareness of the link between Hate Crime and adult safeguarding to prevent and stop abuse to adults (particularly those who need extra help and support).

National Hate Crime Awareness Week

If the person who is being targeted is an adult who needs extra care and support, the Hate Crime or incident should also be considered as a safeguarding concern.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, health and social housing, said:

“Everyone has the right to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.

“It is therefore vital that we continue to work together to tackle all forms of hate crime and safeguarding concerns and ensure that Shropshire is a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

“Hate Crime Awareness Week provides an opportunity for everyone to take a zero tolerance approach to hate crime and abuse.  If you or someone you know is affected by this, then please do report it.”

If you are a person who is the target of Hate Crime, or a witness to a Hate Crime or hate incident, there are a number of ways you can report it. These can be found by going online at https://shropshire.gov.uk/crime-and-criminal-justice/report-a-hate-crime.  You can report it by calling West Mercia Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you have a concern or need want to talk to someone about an adult who is or might be being abused, you can call Shropshire Council First Point of Contact: 0345 678 9044.

If you are a professional or volunteer working with a person who is being targeted, please also refer to the Multi-Agency Procedures page on the Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Board website before raising a safeguarding concern.

Further information and resources specifically relating to Hate Crime and adult safeguarding are now available on the Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Board website: http://www.keepingadultssafeinshropshire.org.uk/learning-resources/hate-crime-information-and-resources.

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