‘Report hate crime’

Residents are being urged to report hate crimes within their communities, as the local police force launches its ‘Make Hate History’ campaign.

With more nationalities now calling Welshpool home, police are keen to clamp down on any forms of hate and will use National Hate Crime Awareness Week to raise awareness as to what a 'Hate Crime' is.

Chief Inspector Rhiannon Ivens said: “Hate crimes and incidents have a significant impact on victims and can cause serious distress, confusion and fear. By their very nature they are hostile and prejudice, targeting a person or people merely due to their disability, religion or belief, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or transgender identity. We have to unite to stop this – together.”

Chief Inspector Ivens said that by reporting crimes and incidents when they occur, residents and communities are joining police in the fight against crime and “supporting us to investigate, identify offenders and bring them to justice and to stop this from happening to someone else”.

“I want to encourage anyone who is a victim of hate crime to report it to us at Dyfed-Powys Police so we can investigate and offer as much support as possible. We also need to know where it is happening so we can understand the extent of hate crime in the area and be better equipped to diffuse community tension before it can escalate.

“We all share the responsibility to stop hate crime. Challenging perceptions and attitudes and encouraging others to ‘think for themselves’ is something we must all do consistently to drive out Hate and positively influence our environment.

“Whether you are a victim or a witness to hate crime, adult or child, please report it to us, we want to hear from you and stop this – together.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Hate crime can destroy lives, instill fear and can break down the fabric of our communities and neighbourhoods. Hate crime affects all communities and if not tackled can lead to the isolation and victimisation of individuals and vulnerable groups along with the polarisation of communities.

“I would like to see everyone challenging the underlying attitudes and behaviours in society that lead to hate crime being committed.”

During the week officers will be out an about in the community and speaking to the public to raise awareness of hate crime.

Victims are encouraged not to suffer in silence but to report hate crime by speaking to Neighbourhood Policing teams or via the 101 non-emergency number or 999 during an emergency.

Victims can also report electronically on the True Vision reporting system - www.report-it.org.uk.