HATE CRIME VICTIMS URGED TO COME FORWARD

29/11/05

People who experience racial, homophobic and domestic abuse are being urged not to suffer in silence as part of a new campaign to help hate crime victims in the London Borough of Camden.

The ‘Talk to Us’ campaign launched this week aims to raise awareness of the many ways hate crime can be reported. Camden Council and Camden Police have teamed up with a range of community and support groups who have warned that many people are too afraid to report these crimes.

A series of posters and leaflets in seven community languages are being distributed to all public buildings and via community groups, crime prevention officers and BME contacts to encourage residents to report hate crime directly or through an approved third party. The campaign coincides with a London-wide police operation - Operation Athena - which focuses on hate crime offenders and publicises support services for victims of hate crime.

“We know that many people who suffer from hate crime - whether it’s racial, homophobic or from their partner or family member - don’t come forward and let us know,” says Jake Sumner, Executive Member, Community Safety at Camden Council.

“The official statistics show that hate crime is only 1 per cent of all crime, but support groups, backed up by research, continually tell us that the people who come to them don’t report it. The ‘Talk to Us’ campaign tells people how to report any abuse that has happened to them. Victims of hate crime shouldn’t suffer in silence. It’s crucial that victims know they can report abuse through a trusted and approved third party if they don’t feel confident to approach the police themselves.”

Hate crime can range from physical violence and assault to bullying and threats because of someone’s race, faith or sexuality. It also incorporates domestic violence where a partner or family member is violent and abusive. Residents who want to report non-urgent hate crime can speak to an approved third party reporting centre, a multi-lingual hate crime answer phone reporting line 0800 138 1661 or over email to communitysafety@camden.gov.uk. Camden council tenants can also report it to their relevant District Housing Office. A full list of approved third party reporting places can be found by calling the Community Safety team on 020 7974 2915. or going to www.camden.gov.uk/racecrime

Detective Inspector John Marriott from Camden Police's Community Support Unit said:

"Camden Police has a dedicated team of 24 detectives specifically trained in the investigation of hate crime. The officers are aware of the sometimes unique issues which surround these type of crimes. We urge victims to report offences either directly to the police or via the third party reporting sites, so that my team can investigate these offences robustly and sensitively."

Hilary Wears from Camden’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) forum added:

"We've worked hard with Camden Council and the local police to make sure that when someone is a victim of LGBT hate crime, the perpetrator does not go unpunished. Third party reporting - where someone can report hate crime or harassment to organisations like ours - has already led to the arrest and sentencing of a prolific serial offender. If the victim had not spoken out, the perpetrator would still be at large and a risk to others. If someone is a victim we want them to come forward talk to us."

Farrukh Rahman, from the King’s Cross Race and Diversity Project, added: “The more police know about race hate incidents, the more resources they can put into an area to prevent the problem. We need people to tell us if they have been a victim so we can give them support and report it if they want us to. By doing this, we can help build trust between communities and the police and empower victims of race hate crime.”

Caitriona Scanlan, Domestic Violence coordinator for Camden Council added: “More victims are reporting domestic violence because they now know we have good services and different options to help them. There was almost a 40 per cent rise in reports to police last year which is encouraging - but we know there are still many more victims out there who are too afraid to come forward. The aim of this campaign is to tell people not to tolerate being a victim and talk to us to find out about help available.”

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