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Dear Resident, This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which is all about solidarity and support for those affected by hate crime.
A hate crime is any criminal offence driven by hostility or prejudice towards someone because of their transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief.
These crimes can take many forms, including: Verbal abuse
Physical attacks
Online harassment
Sexual assault
Threats or intimidation
Damage to property
Bullying
Encouraging others to commit hate crimes
Hate crimes can happen to anyone and can happen anywhere – at home, in public, online, at work or at school.
Over the last 12 months reports of hate crime across the region have increased, but positive outcomes in the form of charges, court summons, cautions and community resolution orders have also risen.
We are making progress, but we know there is more to be done, and we regularly review our processes to look at how we can improve the services we offer victims of these offences.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week provides us with an opportunity to highlight our commitment to tackling and preventing this type of crime, as well as sharing information about how to report it.
As part of our regular programme of engagement activities, our neighbourhood officers will be out and about in the community over the coming seven days, hosting surgeries at various venues, visiting places of worship, going into schools, and carrying out patrols.
Our officers are happy to talk to you about the work we’re doing to tackle hate crime and other crime-related issues that may be causing concern in your neighbourhood. Ch Supt Michelle Davies, our lead for hate crime, said: "There's been a small but encouraging improvement in the positive outcomes for hate crime. "We are putting more offenders before the courts, and they are holding more people to account for their abhorrent crimes. "I am also minded that hate crime is about far more than numbers alone. Behind every report is someone who has been targeted because of who they are, or who they are perceived to be, and these much remain our focus. "We know there are issues undermining confidence to report hate crimes from those with disabilities and transgender people. We me must work hard to address this through engagement and building trust. "Trust and confidence remain fundamental. People must feel able to come forward, knowing they will be listened to, treated with dignity and supported throughout the process." If you experience or witness a hate crime or incident, we are here to support you.
Call 999 if you feel you are in danger, threats have been made against you or if a crime is in progress
For non-emergencies, call 101 or contact us through our website
Alternatively, you can report it at a Third Party Reporting Centre. These are community locations – such as libraries, family hubs and local organisations – where you can report hate crimes or incidents without having to contact the police directly.
Staff at these centres are trained to handle these reports sensitively, signpost to support and confidentially share the information with police to investigate. You can find out more about hate crime and what to do if you experience or witness it here. | 
