Tackling hate crime in Hackney
Residents are being encouraged to report hate crime in the borough as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week is aimed at raising awareness of all forms of hate crime, including homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, faith discrimination and disability discrimination.
It forms part of the Council and the police’s all-year programme to tackle hate crime, which includes working closely with our partners to ensure that any incidents of hate crime are investigated and offenders are held to account, training staff and partners in tackling hate crime, and raising awareness of how to report hate crime.
Hackney has a proud history as a welcoming and inclusive borough that celebrates diversity. However, hate crime is a very real issue for many in our community and can cause significant harm to its victims. This year we have seen increases in reports of anti-semitic, disability-related and homophobic hate crime, while reports of Covid-19 related abuse has been of particular concern to Chinese and South-East Asian members of our community. Studies also show that hate crime is regularly under reported, not least anti-LGBTQI+ and disability related hate crime.
The Council and its partners are working together to change this by encouraging anyone who has been affected by hate crime to report these incidents and raising awareness of how to do so. An increase in reporting will help the Council and police build local evidence and bring those who commit hate crimes to justice.
This year the Council is also launching a new ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign relating to our night time economy, which will see a social media campaign followed by training for local venues who sign-up to Hackney’s upcoming online portal. The training will be developed by the Metropolitan Police and will support Hackney’s venues to tackle hate crime on their premises.
Hackney’s ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign and the online portal are both part of the Council’s Hackney Nights initiative which works to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive night time economy for residents, businesses and visitors.
All Hackney Nights’ activities are funded by Hackney’s late night levy, which is paid for by local late-night licensed venues to contribute towards policing and the management of night time economy areas, ensuring that residents are protected from the impacts of anti-social behaviour and crime.
Hackney Council launched its ‘No Place for Hate’ strategy in 2018 which sets out how the Council will tackle hate crime in Hackney, including improving support for those affected by hate crime, raising awareness of how to report hate crimes, and working with residents to build understanding of hate incidents and crime.
Hate crime has a profound impact on the lives of those affected by it, and we will not tolerate it in our diverse, inclusive and welcoming borough.
We are committed to taking concrete action against hate crime and to standing with all those who are impacted. We will continue working with our partners and communities to ensure that Hackney is no place for hate - not just during National Hate Crime Awareness Week but all year round.
If you’ve been affected by hate crime, please don’t suffer in silence. There are a range of services that can help you. You are not alone.
Our shared values of tolerance and inclusivity are what makes Hackney such a wonderful place to live in, work in and visit - and we will never allow these values to be eroded by hatred and discrimination. Now more than ever, we need to come together to reiterate the clear message that Hackney is no place for hate.
We know that you may feel afraid to report a hate crime, but you don’t need to suffer alone. There are helplines that can provide support and advice, and by reporting hate crime you’ve experienced or witnessed, you can help become a part of this movement to tackle hate in Hackney and to help bring those who commit hate crimes to justice.
Hate crime can be reported to the police by calling 999 in an emergency, and 101 in other situations. You can also report hate crime to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625.