This week (11-18 October) is National Hate Crime Awareness Week, and Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams is encouraging victims of hate crimes and incidents to seek emotional and practical support from the Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate (USAH) service.
Commissioned by the Staffordshire Commissioner and delivered by Citizens Advice, USAH delivers a free, high-quality, personalised and tailored service to help victims cope and recover from the impact of the hate crime or incident, and the harm they have experienced.
The service is designed to be accessible through a range of channels, simple to navigate and prevent victims having to repeat their story on multiple occasions.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “Hate crime can take many forms, including physical attacks, damage to property, theft, offensive graffiti, threats, intimidation or bullying.
“Victims can often feel isolated and afraid, and it is important that they get the specialist support they need after a hate crime or incident.”
Between April 2024 and March 2025, USAH:
- Received 1,251referrals for support
- Provided support to 212victims
- Provided advice, guidance, information and signposting to 902victims
- Delivered awareness training to 1,811professionals over 88 training sessions
- Delivered 100 community awareness sessions to over 9,495people
Victims who had accessed the one-to-one support service saw positive results:
- 72%said they could cope better with everyday life
- 84%said they felt safer
- 89%said their health and emotional wellbeing improved
- 75%said their resilience improved
- 77%said they could better navigate the legal system
Sarah Heath, Head of Specialist Support at USAH, said: “Hate crime is something that can affect us all. It is vital that we are able to shine a light on the issues individuals and communities can face, and support them wherever possible. Our service is dedicated to supporting victims of hate crimes and incidents, as well as educating our communities around hate.”
If you need support after a hate crime or hate incident, contact Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate on 0330 0881 339 or email help@usah.org.uk, or for more information visit www.usah.org.uk. In an emergency, always call 999.
Supporting victims of hate: Jo’s Story
Jo*, a Staffordshire bus driver, experienced a racially aggravated attack at work. A passenger verbally assaulted her with racist slurs, intimidated fellow passengers and caused damage to the bus. Though physically unharmed, Jo was left deeply shaken, fearful for her safety, and uncertain about continuing in her role.
She was referred to USAH and assigned a Victim Care Coordinator (VCC), who provided ongoing support over several months. They helped Jo understand her rights under the Victims’ Code, liaised with Police on her behalf and ensured she was kept informed throughout the investigation. In addition to practical support, the VCC offered ongoing emotional support through regular check-ins. These helped Jo to process her experience, manage her fears, and explore options and strategies to regain a sense of control and confidence.
Jo described the support provided by USAH as ‘brilliant’. She explained that her VCC was ‘caring, put her at ease, kept her updated and answered every question she had.’
The perpetrator was ultimately prosecuted and received an uplifted sentence due to the hate-related nature of the offence. With the support of USAH, Jo felt safer, emotionally stronger, and empowered to move forward.
*Name has been changed
