Gloucestershire Constabulary supports Hate Crime Awareness Week 2021

Gloucestershire Constabulary is hosting a number of roadshow events for the public as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The week of action launched on Saturday (9 October) and this year's activity will focus on bringing people together, saying no to hate crime and working together to make communities safe for all.

These will allow officers to raise awareness of what hate crimes are as well as ways that victims can report them.

Spokespeople from the police and a number of agencies, such as Restorative Justice Gloucestershire, Victim Support and the LGBT+ Partnership will be at the following location where members of the public can go to speak to them about hate crime.

• Tuesday 12 October: Stratford Park, Stroud from 10am to 3pm
• Wednesday 13 October: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation bus parked in Tewkesbury
• Thursday 14 October: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation bus parked in Cirencester
• Friday 15 October: Community Engagement Vehicle parked at Co-Op in Cinderford from 10am to 3pm

Hate crime and hate incidents occur when people are targeted due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or disability. Older people, the homeless, or those from alternative subcultures may also be victims of hostility, hate or prejudice.

Hate crime co-ordinator PC Steph Lawrence said: "Our vision is for a Gloucestershire that embraces difference, with all people able to live their lives in safety, with respect and free from the harmful effects of prejudice.

"Over the years victims have started to become more confident in reporting incidents but there are still people who feel scared or ashamed to report what has happened to them. 

"We are working to raise awareness of the wide range of hate crimes that you can subjected to whilst also informing members of the public that they can report incidents they see if the victim does not feel comfortable doing so.

"Anyone can be a victim of hate crime and we're all responsible for challenging hate incidents and crimes."

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Evans added: "Hate Crime Awareness Week is an opportunity for us all to raise awareness and show more tolerance and respect for Gloucestershire’s diverse communities.

"I want every resident in the County to feel safe in their community, and have the confidence and trust that they can go about their lives without suffering from the harmful effects of prejudice.

"This is also an opportunity to ensure that, in future, any incident receives the proper response from police and other agencies.”

Hate crime can have significant effects on victims, but help is available from a number of agencies such as Victim support and Galop (LGBT+ hate crime).

If you or someone you know has been a victim of hate crime please report it: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/hco/hate-crime/how-to-report-hate-crime/

Details for contacting support agencies are below:

• Victim support: 0808 1689 111 | https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
• Galop (LGBT+ hate crime): 020 7704 204 | https://galop.org.uk/