Commissioner’s Commitment To Hate Crime

During National Hate Crime Week, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall raises awareness of targeted intervention programmes across the county, urging everyone to make a stand against hate crime. Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards a person’s disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Peter McCall comments: “Throughout October and during National Hate Crime week, Cumbria Constabulary are highlighting services and initiatives across the county that support vulnerable people and victims of hate.

“Hate crime in Cumbria is unacceptable and I am committed in supporting the county’s proactive approach to hate crime.

“The trauma experienced by victims of hate crime can have a long term detrimental impact on their health and mental well-being, as well as negative effects on communities.

“If we are to minimise the risk of learned prejudice behaviours becoming the norm and an acceptance of hate based attitudes among communities, we must all work together.

“Targeted interventions to help prevent hate and any further escalation of their effect, are vital. Throughout the year, I commission various projects across Cumbria to help reduce the risk of victimisation from hate based prejudices.

“The Values, Attitudes and Behaviour programme (VAB) works with perpetrators of hate, referred by Cumbria Constabulary, to promote rehabilitation and community cohesion, which in turn supports local communities in becoming more resistant to divisive messages.

“The Covid19 Community Recovery fund supports various hate crime projects such as Penrith Pumas, a wheelchair rugby team, in the purchase of specialist equipment, enabling them to offer contact disability sport. Carlisle MENCAP have been awarded a grant to assist with developing their online educational packages around hate and mate crime, sexual abuse and child exploitation.  Also, Autism Support in Allerdale and Copeland to deliver school workshops for 800 people around challenging behaviour, sleep patterns and self-harming in West Cumbria, providing vital support and information to parents, carers and professionals on their journey through the world of Autism.

“As part of our Restorative Justice programme, I also commission Remedi to deliver a hate crime mediation programme around community tensions and anti-social behaviour, and Victim Support’s ‘Turning the Spotlight’ multi-agency educational support for offenders of hate crime, is also aimed at addressing hate crime behaviour and reducing re-offending.

“We must all promote tolerance and respect, increase awareness of hate and how to report it, and for those who have victimised someone on the basis of hate, educate them on how to and why they should not do so again.”

Detective Chief Inspector Furzana Nazir, force Operational lead for Hate Crime and Honour based abuse said: “We take all reports of hate crime extremely seriously and would urge anyone who’s been a victim, witness, or someone who is aware of information that needs to be reported to use one of the many ways in which to report hate.

“There is no place for hate in Cumbria, it will not be tolerated, and we will investigate and look to prosecute those who commit these offences.

“We know the devastating impact that hate crimes can have on individuals, their family and the local community, and understand that contacting us can feel daunting. We recognise this and there is support services such as Victim Support, True Vision or Cumbria Together you can contact to report hate crimes or incidents. Or talk to someone you trust.

“This week of awareness is just a small part of the work we do to educate and keep conversations going and to raise vital awareness within communities and schools of what hate crimes or hate incidents are, what you should do if you witness it and how police can help and support those effected.”

Hate Crime can be reported by:

Calling the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency

Visit a police station or police desk or approach an officer on patrol

Textphone: 18000 – the 101 number for people who are deaf or hearing of speech impaired

True vision – http://www.report-it.org.uk/your_police_force

Victim Support – https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/  

Cumbria Together – http://www.cumbriatogether.com