Unanimous Support Against Hate Crime

In response to reports of an increase in Hate Crime across the UK following the referendum, Conwy County Borough Council joined together on Thursday to condemn such crimes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Chairman, Cllr Brian Cossey took the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue at a Council Meeting on Thursday (07/07/16). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to reassure everyone living in Conwy that they are valued members of our community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council unanimously supported Cllr Cossey’s statement.
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