Express & Star

Crackdown on hate crime is launched with Wolverhampton campaign

People are being reminded how to report incidents of hate crime ahead of a national campaign to combat offences.

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National Hate Crime Awareness Week runs from October 8 to 15, and in preparation, Wolverhampton Council has issued guidelines on how to report such crimes.

Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their race, colour, ethnic origin or nationality, their religion, their gender or gender identity, their sexual orientation or their disability.

It can take many forms, from physical attacks such as an assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti and arson, to verbal abuse or insults or the threat of attack, including the sending of offensive letters, emails or texts, abusive or obscene telephone calls or malicious complaints.

Councillor Paul Sweet, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: "The Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and West Midlands Police take hate crime incredibly seriously, and all reports will be fully investigated by police.

"I would encourage anyone who has either been the victim of hate crime, or has witnessed an incident of hate crime, to contact the authorities."

Victims can call police on 101 – or dial 999 or 112 if it is an emergency, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org, or visit a Third Party Reporting Centre, businesses or other sites which can help people report hate crime.

People can also visit the True Vision website at www.report-it.org.uk

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