Communities “stand together” Hate Awareness Week
10 October 2016
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Communities are being urged to “Stand together” and report hate.
Partners, including councils across Leicestershire and Rutland and the police, are spreading the message and supporting a series of events during National Hate Crime Awareness Week (8-15 October).
The aim is to raise awareness of hate crime and incidents, how to report them and show what communities can do to make people feel safe and less vulnerable
Events include sharing food from different cultures that people can try and ask questions about, enabling people to meet their neighbours, understand their beliefs and share stories.
Main Leicestershire County Council Libraries will hold wriggly readers sessions for 0-4s and will also have book corners with specific books highlighting celebrating differences.
Councillor Joe Orson, County Council Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said:
“It’s simply not acceptable to be targeted because of who you are.
"Often, hate incidents go unreported. We hope people will attend these events, or hold their own, to raise awareness, encourage communities to ‘stand together and report hate’ and empower people to report incidents or crimes they experience or witness.
“They will also provide a wonderful opportunity to bring people together and educate others on different traditions and cultures.
"If we stand together and say no to hate, together we can make a difference.”
Darren Goddard, Hate Crime Officer for Leicestershire Police said “We know that hate incidents and hate crimes don’t just impact on the victim but they also affect their family, their friends and the whole community. The theme for this year’s National Hate Crime Awareness Week is Standing Together and there is no stronger message than when our diverse communities stand together side by side against hate and to send a clear message that it has no place in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland”.
Communities are encouraged to hold their own events or visit their local council website for events in their area.
Report hate incidents and crimes to the Police via the Stamp it Out website or by phoning 101, or in an emergency always call 999.
Text Leicestershire Police on 07624 818 901 (only to be used by people who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired).
