Work to provide better support to victims and witnesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is being highlighted as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week (8 to 15 October).
Supporting victims and witnesses is one of four key priorities in Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis’ Safer, Fairer United Communities strategy for more local and effective policing in the county. The Staffordshire Victim Gateway was launched in September 2015 to place victims back at the heart of the criminal justice system and has supported over 50,000 people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Hate crime can be where a person is bullied, taunted or physically assaulted because of their sexuality, race or religion, gender, a disability, the way they look or the way they dress.
The Victim Gateway, a service led by the Citizens Advice Bureau, works closely with two local partnerships to offer specialist support to hate crime victims: Challenge North Staffordshire Network (CNS) in Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire and Communities Against Crimes of Hate (CACH) in the south and east of Staffordshire.
Mr Ellis said: “Being a victim of hate crime sees people being targeted simply for being who they are and can have a devastating psychological impact on victims and their families.
“We are working to create a joined-up system that treats victims with dignity and respect in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
“The Victim Gateway is about putting all victims’ needs first by making sure the system fits the victim rather than the victim having to fit around the system.”
Anna McLauchlan, CACH Coordinator, said: “People who experience hate crime do not always feel confident or able to report incidents directly to the police but both CACH and CNS can offer support to them anyway. CACH or CNS will be able to provide information and guidance so that the victim can make an informed decision about what to do next and be supported in making a report to the police should they wish to do so.”
Jude Hawes, CNS Project Manager, said: “Hate crime has a very powerful impact on victims and having good support is crucial to helping them cope and recover from this harm. Both CNS and CACH can provide this support to victims of hate crime.”
More information on the Victim Gateway is available here or by ringing 0330 0881 339.
