Working together to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2023

This week Merseyside Police is supporting National Hate Crime Awareness Week, a week of action to encourage communities to come together to help eliminate hate crime.

Hate crime can involve people being targeted based on their disability, gender identity, race, religion and sexual orientation. Merseyside Police expand these strands further and also monitor hate crime against those who sex work, which is seen as unique but often best practice for the support provided. The force believes that every person in Merseyside has the right to go about their lives without being the target of abusive language or criminal behaviour motivated by hate or prejudice.

To help ensure that all Hate Crime is managed, recorded and investigated in a robust manner, the force employs five dedicated Hate Crime Coordinators for each area of Merseyside. Each coordinator provides specialist advice and support for all Hate Crime victims and works with partner agencies to identify and develop strategies to prevent and reduce repeat offences.

The coordinators also work with their local authorities, education providers, travel companies and businesses to provide them with the tools and resources that will encourage them to call out and challenge hate when they see it. The force acknowledges that not all victims of hate crime would wish for police action or for prosecution, so if more organisations have the awareness and methods to confront the issue, this will help us bring the offender to justice.

To support the week of action, there are a range of activities happening across Merseyside to help prevent hate crime and increase awareness of the support available to anyone affected. Each of the Hate Crime Coordinators will be conducting numerous hate crime presentations to drive the awareness of what constitutes as a hate crime and how and when to report it. These will be taking place across Merseyside in various primary schools, colleges job centres, councils and LGBTQ+ and disability community groups. There will also be an additional presentation at Everton Football Club, presenting to their youth team to help reduce hate crime in the football community.

Some of the coordinators will also be visiting groups and local services to promoting the Disability Hate Crime Ambassadors scheme. This is a unique peer-to-peer reporting scheme whereby members of the disabled community are trained to become hate crime ambassadors who can then take initial reports of any crime within their community and disability day centres and then pass these reports on to the coordinator for progression regarding assessment, investigation and victim support provision.

Officers will also be participating in the community engagement and leaflet drop events organised by the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, as well as helping to deliver the LCR Pride ‘You’re Safe Here’ presentation to Robbie Fowler Academy staff which aims to provide training and resources that create safe places for victims of hate crime.

Detective Superintendent Cheryl Rhodes said: “Merseyside has a reputation for being a welcoming, friendly place and there is no place here for hate crime. Everybody has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect and so we will not tolerate hate crime in any form.

“Our officers and team of dedicated hate crime co-ordinators work tirelessly to provide support to victims of hate crime, investigate such incidences and find those responsible, bringing them to justice.

“We work closely with partner organisations including LCR Pride, the Michael Causer Foundation, Citizens Advice Liverpool, local councils, and licenced premises across Merseyside to understand community concerns, educate people on the harm that hate causes in our communities, and develop our awareness and encourage reporting.

“We also support the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners on the ‘You’re Safe Here’ scheme to create safe spaces in venues across the Liverpool City Region. This involves delivering training and resources to enable them to support someone that has been the victim of a crime, feels intimidated or is in need of assistance.

“As a result of this collaborative work with our partners, I am pleased to report that Merseyside has seen a 10% decrease in Hate Crime reports for the last 6 months compared to the same period last year. That being said however, Hate Crime is still very much an ongoing issue, so I would still urge for anyone who believes they have been subjected to abuse or left in fear because of who they are to come forward and let us know. We have the support available and we will take action against those responsible.”

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Tackling hate crime is a priority for me and National Hate Crime Awareness Week gives us all the opportunity to highlight the real damage that hatred and prejudice can inflict on individuals and communities, whilst also providing us with a platform to celebrate the rich diversity that exists across Merseyside.

“Crimes motivated by hate have no place in our region and they will not be tolerated, so I’m pleased to come together with our partners to send out the message – loud and clear – that Merseyside is inclusive and welcomes all. It is home to people of all races and faiths, of all sexual orientations and genders and to people of all abilities, and our communities are enriched as a result.

“Sadly, we know that if stereotypes and hate-fuelled attitudes are allowed to fester and are not tackled at the earliest stage they can lead to very serious crimes that can have devastating consequences on many lives.

“Despite the pain and suffering that hate crime inflicts, we know most people who are targeted still do not report it.  That’s why we’re determined to raise awareness of the issue and I would encourage anyone affected to have the confidence to speak out.

“For anyone who does not feel comfortable speaking to the police, I commission the independent charity Stop Hate UK to provide a confidential reporting helpline available 24 hours a day.  This means anybody affected can report it anonymously without speaking to the police.

“I also work with three fantastic local charities, the Anthony Walker Foundation, Daisy Inclusive UK and Citizens Advice Liverpool, to provide emotional support, practical assistance and information to anyone affected.

“I hope this week of activity will give more victims the confidence to speak out and get the support they need so they can live free from fear.  Please don’t suffer in silence.”

If you have witnessed a hate crime, or have any information, please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police Contact Centre. You can also call 101.

If, for any reason, you do not wish to the report to the police, Stop Hate UK will ensure you get the appropriate emotional and practical support. They offer a free, confident and accessible 24/7 reporting service for all victims of hate crime, including multi-lingual reporting, the Stop Hate UK app, phone line 0800 138 1625 and webchat www.stophateuk.org.

Anyone affected by hate crime can visit www.victimcaremerseyside.org for help, advice and to get the contact details for organisations which can offer support.