Chance to share your concerns about hate crime

PEOPLE can share their concerns about hate crime at an event organised by South Yorkshire Police tomorrow (Thursday).
By David Parker
Published 17th Oct 2018, 13:48 BST
Updated 17th Oct 2018, 17:11 BST

Rotherham’s hate crime co-ordinator, PC Chris Nicholson, will host the event at the Community Corner at Rotherham Hospital from 11am to 2pm.

It coincides with Hate Crime Awareness Week and the police force’s Hate Hurts campaign, which encourages people to stand up against hate and report hate crimes.

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Rotherham actor Dean Andrews, known for his roles in Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, and Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley are among those to have pledged to take a stand against hate by supporting the Hate Hurts campaign.

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    The police force, which is running events and activities throughout the county this week, has been encouraging people to support the campaign by sharing their pledges of support online using the hashtag #HateHurtsSY

    Figures released by the Home Office show that reporting of hate crime has increased by 17 per cent across England and Wales compared to last year.

    The Safer Rotherham Partnership, which includes Rotherham Borough Council and South Yorkshire Police, is tackling hate crime by making sure communities are confident to report incidents.  

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    Cllr Emma Hoddinott, Rotherham Council's cabinet member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, said: “Hateful behavior towards people is completely unacceptable and we want to work with residents to stop it.

    “It has no place in our town.”

    The partnership has supported projects such as the Rotherham Ethnic Minorities Alliance (REMA), which has received support to help them encourage hate crime reporting.

    Last year, REMA delivered this initiative in partnership with Speakup Self Advocacy and The Rainbow Project, resulting in 117 additional hate crimes being reported between September last year and March.

    Rotherham Police led 48 awareness raising meetings and events in 2017-2018, attended by more than two thousand people.

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    Hate crime awareness sessions have been carried out in schools to help increase awareness in young people. 

    A hate crime is any crime motivated by prejudice or hostility towards a person's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. 

    The Safer Rotherham Partnership said it encouraged anyone who had witnessed, or been subject to a hate crime, to report it to the police immediately by calling 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergencies.

    Alternatively, people can report incidents online at www.reportingcrime.uk/SYPincidentreport or by visiting Community Reporting Centres such as REMA. 

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