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A ceremony in Harlow has formally accredited new hate crime reporting centres and hate crime ambassadors in the town.
Nine centres based in Harlow from within the public and voluntary centre have received specialist training from Essex Police Hate Crime Officers to open as a Hate Incident Reporting Centres.
The centres provide an alternative place to report hate crime and hate incidents, either as a victim or a witness, when people feel uncomfortable reporting directly to the police. The centres will work in collaboration with the police and other partner agencies to provide support and advice on hate crime and join 19 other HIRCs across the county.
Hate Crime ambassadors are members of the local community who raise awareness of hate crime and promote the reporting of hate crime. Nearly 200 ambassadors will receive training from Essex Police to equip them with the knowledge and information to recognise a hate incident or hate crime, take an effective report and provide advice and support.
Chief Superintendent Sean O’Callaghan formally presented the HIRCs and HCAs with their certificates in a ceremony at the Harlow Civic Centre on December 21 and said:
“Harlow has sadly featured in the media across this year about hate crime but none of that coverage showed the real commitment I see among partners on the ground. The accreditation of the nine new centres is real evidence of Harlow coming together to give residents and visitors the confidence to report hate crime at locations they feel comfortable with.
These crimes tend to be heavily under-reported and in order for us to tackle it effectively that must change. These crimes can cause awful emotional and physical damage so stopping them is a priority for Essex Police and I wish to thank all the people who have stepped up to be trained.”
Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner said: “I’d like to praise this partnership for providing a safe and accessible environment for people to report hate incidents. The Police and Crime Plan actively sets out to protect people from harm and improve the reporting of hate crimes. Community engagement plays a vital role. I commend the volunteers in Harlow and hope to see more of these centres open throughout the county.”
Councillor Jon Clempner, Leader of Harlow Council, said: “I believe across the UK more needs to be done to support those affected by hate crimes and to encourage people to report issues. This initiative lead by Essex Police is very much welcomed because it offers a network of support which reassures people that they can report hate crime and that there is help available. Importantly this will also contribute towards increasing understanding and tackling hate crime, not just in Harlow, but across Essex.”
Mimoza Matoshi, Chief Executive of Integration Support Services – a charity which helps migrants, refugees and other isolated ethnic communities to integrate into the community – said: “We welcome this initiative and consider this as a very positive step towards understanding and tackling hate crime in our area.
“As a charity we are firmly committed to work with the police and community groups to make sure that the voice of any one affected by hate crime is heard and supported effectively.
“Our staff members have received training and are able to provide support at various venues in Harlow (Latton Bush Centre, The Tree House Children Centre, Harlow Library) and most importantly if language is a barrier to talk to the police we will be able to provide a support service in various languages.”
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ROJAY Hutton of no fixed address in Harlow was sentenced to 42 months’ in a Young Offender Institution at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 18, 2016.
