This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2018, 13-20 October 2018. So in Leeds you need to start thinking about what you will do to support the week this year!
As part of the official launch held in Leeds on Friday, Cllr Debra Coupar, executive member for communities and Paul Money, chief officer of Safer Leeds joined representatives of partner groups, including Stop Hate UK at Leeds Civic Hall to underline the city’s commitment to tackling hate crime. A special information event was also held on Millennium Square which provided members of the public with the opportunity to find out more about the support that is available to tackle this issue.
The launch is followed by events held at various locations across Leeds, which includes a number of ‘pop-up Hate Crime Roadshows’ that will provide a wealth of information and stress to the public why it is so important to report any instances of hate crime immediately.
Adding their support to the city’s Hate Crime Awareness Week campaign are a number of prominent figures in the statutory, voluntary and community sectors through a series of video blogs which will be displayed on the big screen in Millennium Square.
Leeds has set out a clear no tolerance message regarding hate crime, and anyone who is experiencing it can be assured that if reported, it will be taken seriously.
There are a number of ways to report hate crime. This can be done in person at any council office or council one stop centre, any Police Station, at Stop Hate UK, or at one of the city’s designated reporting centres.
Cllr Gohar Almass from Beeston and Holbeck ward said:
“Leeds is a great multicultural and diverse city, home to people from around the world belonging to various faiths and cultures, we must celebrate this diversity and use it as a positive uniting force in making our city more prosperous and stronger. We live in a community of communities and hatred in any community is like a cancer and should have no place in our society.
“We must all start from home in raising this awareness that hatred and intolerance in any form has no place in our society and we must condemn anyone who incites and encourages such sentiments. I’m also proud to say that Leeds is a City of Sanctuary and we are committed to making our city a haven for anyone who needs its protection. I’m fully confident that overall peace,tolerance and unity has and shall prevail in our city.”
A hate crime is defined as a crime which is committed against someone due to their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.
To report a hate crime, you can telephone West Yorkshire Police on 101 or in an emergency 999 or the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team on (0113) 222 4402 or email at LASBT@leeds.gov.uk.
The national organisation Stop Hate UK can be contacted on 0800 138 1625, by text to 07717 989025 or via talk@stophateuk.org or downloading the Stop Hate UK APP.
For a full list of Leeds City Council Reporting Centre’s, please see: www.leeds.gov.uk/saferleeds/report-a-hate-incident
