The devastating impact of hate crime was made clear at a special event in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday, Tuesday 21 October.
The North Staffordshire Hate Crime Conference was staged by the Challenge North Staffordshire network (CNS) which is hosted by Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice Bureau. The CNS offers services and support to victims of hate crime and encourages accurate reporting and recording of hate crime.
The event was funded by a £1,413 grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s People Power Fund. It was held at the Bridge Centre in Birches Head and enabled people from a variety of key agencies to come together to discuss current issues, with the main focus on disability hate crime. Attendees learnt how to identify hate crime, how to report incidents and how to assist victims and witnesses.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis, set out a vision 12 months ago to put the needs of victims and witnesses at the heart of the criminal justice system in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Sue Arnold, Deputy PCC for Staffordshire, was a key note speaker at the conference.
She said: “The conference has really shown how important it is to raise awareness of this seriously under-reported crime. Hate crime can have a devastating psychological effect, especially for repeat victims, driving them to despair or, in some cases, suicide.
“We want to create a joined-up system that treats victims with dignity and respect in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. It’s about making it easier for victims to receive the support they need and putting them at the heart of all we do.
“Help for people who suffer hate crime will be a key priority in the new victims gateway which will launch in 2015.”
CNS Project Manager, Jude Hawes said: “Many victims are not being heard or supported because organisations fail to recognise that what is happening is a hate crime. Victims tell CNS that they feel that their reports aren’t taken seriously or that no action has been taken – so the next time it happens, they don’t even try to report it.”
Karen Wilson, Chair of CNS said: “Services in North Staffordshire have been working together well, but the majority of hate crimes still go unreported.
“The conference is an important event to help us all to listen to the experiences of victims and begin to find ways to help them to report these crimes and recover from their experience.
“CNS are very grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner who has provided funding for this event. We look forward to seeing improved services for victims resulting from the discussions place at the Conference.”
For more information about Challenge North Staffs visit https://challengenorthstaffs.org/ or call 0330 1111 999.
