All Wales Hate Crime Awareness Week 8th-15th October 2016

This year each Local Authority and Public Service in North Wales have been working closely with partners and groups to plan for the National Hate Crime Awareness week to increase understanding and encourage victims to report Hate Crime. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We know that some people in Wales are more likely to be bullied and harassed because of who they are; based on a prejudice against their identity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Conwy County Borough Council and partners across North Wales have come together to highlight the issues of hate crime and promote reporting to the Police and Victim Support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Chairman, Cllr Brian Cossey, said: “I am very concerned in the reported rise on racism, xenophobia and hate crimes. We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country. We in Conwy condemn racism, xenophobia and hate crime unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

What is hate crime? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hate crime is a crime against an individual based on their identity or their perceived difference. Victims may have been bullied, harassed or abused because of who they are, their sexual orientation, gender, religion, ethnicity or lifestyle choice. The crime may manifest itself as verbal abuse, offensive graffiti, threats, damage to property, assault, cyber bullying, abusive texts, emails or phone calls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you have been bullied, harassed or abused because of who you are, or who someone thinks you are then it is identity based hate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To truly tackle hate crime there needs to be an increase in reporting. Unless the majority of these crimes are reported we will never get a true picture of the problem and nothing will change. To report a Hate Crime: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Call the Police directly by dialling 999 if you are in immediate danger, or 101 for non-emergencies or;
• Telephone: 0300 30 31 982 [Free, 24/7] to contact Victim Support directly. Calls are treated confidentially and you have the option to remain anonymous.
• You can also report online at www.reporthate.victimsupport.org.uk