Council and partners tackle hate crime as part of national campaign week

11 October 2021

North Northants community safety partners are supporting a national campaign to tackle the impact of hate crime in October.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week is a multi-agency event running across the UK from October 11 to October 16, raising awareness of what hate crime is and remembering those whose lives have been affected by it.

Hate crime affects people’s lives and wellbeing in many ways and community safety partners are committed to supporting those experiencing such horrible crimes.

Hate crimes damage communities, and drive people apart. They don't just harm the victim, but can make the entire community feel fearful and unsafe. Moreover, that sense of insecurity can live on long after the initial crime is forgotten.

To prevent hate crimes, the key is education. Children should learn to respect everybody, so that they grow up treating all people as equals, regardless of their background or identity.Executive Member for Housing and Communities at North Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Andy Mercer

Reporting hate crime is very important. Community safety partners have dedicated pages on their websites that people can use to inform the police and others. North Northamptonshire Council has recently committed financial support to the StopHateUK campaign along with West Northants Council and the police.

Some events are planned for the National Hate Crime Week. Interactive workshop sessions in some of Corby’s local primary schools as part of an education programme to develop their understanding of hate crime and its impact on local communities. A public information display will also be set up in the Urgent Care Centre on Cottingham Road, in partnership with the Wellness Hub Team. 

Information will be handed out to members of  the public to increase understanding of what hate crime is and how to report it.

A podcast will also be recorded in the month with community safety officers, who will be speaking to Jenny Labbon, Hate Crimes and Incidents Worker for Northamptonshire Rights & Equality Council.

Hate Crime Awareness Week is a national campaign designed to raise awareness and this week we will be working alongside our partner agencies to engage with our communities to raise awareness around what a hate crime is, to support victims and to send a message that hate has no place in our society. We encourage people who have been a victim of hate crime or may know of someone who is being targeted to get in touch with us.Nick Stephens, Hate Crime Co-ordinator for Northamptonshire Police

If you, or someone you know have been affected by hate crime or a hate related incident, there are various ways to report it and to get advice and support as follows:

• You can report it online at Stop Hate UK
• To report to Northamptonshire Police, call 101
• Victim Support Line  - 0808 1689 111