Hackney,
16
October
2017
|
12:56
Europe/London

National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Cllr Selman, Mayor Glanville, Cllr Etti

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, Cllr Caroline Selman, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, and Cllr Sade Etti, Hackney No Place for Hate Champion, write in support of National Hate Crime Awareness Week: 

"This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week and, as representatives of this fantastic borough, helping to promote the right of our residents to live without fear of being targeted by hate is one of the most important things we can do.

"Hackney is a brilliant, diverse place, where people from all backgrounds share our common values of tolerance and respect.

"We in Hackney also know what it is to celebrate our diversity: our annual Hackney One Carnival brings together all of our communities in fun-filled celebration; the all-year Hackney Pride 365 festival champions those of different sexualities; and free events and activities are taking place for Black History Month this October. We also work hard to protect the rights of disabled people by campaigning for their access rights, and Hackney’s interfaith forum is a beacon of interfaith work.

"We will also be launching a hate crime strategy later this year, and will be asking local residents to have their say, to ensure that nobody suffers harassment because of their faith, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

"This week, Hackney Police have been visiting places of worship and community organisations in the borough to reassure our communities that the police and the Council are here to support them.

"The increase in reported hate crime across the UK following the EU referendum last year, however, reminds us all that there is much more to be done. Hate incidents are extremely harmful to their victims, as they target an intrinsic part of who they are. This is why it’s more important than ever to celebrate the diversity of our fantastic borough."

Hate crime can be reported to the police by calling 999 in an emergency, and 101 in other situations. People can also contact Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625 or visit www.catch-hatecrime.org.uk.