Information on Loughborough

Hate Crime Awareness Week

Posted on 07/11/2007
P. Klein

7th November 2007

angry faceA Hate Crime Awareness Week is being run in Loughborough, Leicestershire from Monday 12 November to encourage more people to come forward and report racist or homophobic crimes.

The police are working with Charnwood Borough Council and Charnwood Racial Equality Council and will be running a stall in the centre of Loughborough all week to raise awareness of the help and support that the three organisations can offer to victims of hate crime.

Hate crime is defined to be any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offenders hatred of someone because of their:

  • race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
  • religion
  • gender or gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • disability

Police Constable 445 Loyala Overlunde, the North Area Hate Crime Officer said; "We want to get the message out to members of the community that we want people to report offences, no matter how minor they think they are.  The police are committed to taking positive action wherever possible against the people who commit this type of crime and we want to increase peoples confidence in the criminal justice system and encourage victims to come forward in the knowledge that their complaint will be taken seriously."

Amar Bashir, the Racial Harassment Officer for Charnwood Racial Equality Council and an Equalities Officer for Charnwood Borough Council said; "Research suggests that between 70 and 90 percent of racist, religious and homophobic crime goes unreported and there are a number of reasons why people dont come forward.  Sometimes they are too frightened or embarrassed and sometimes there might be perceived language barriers or victims dont know who to turn to.

"Hate crime can take many forms from a physical attack to name calling in the street or at work and neither are acceptable.  We hope that the Awareness Week will give people the confidence to come and talk to us and find out what help is available.  Our aim is to increase the number of people coming forward and in turn increase the proportion of hate crimes being brought to justice."

The stall will be based in the Market Place in Loughborough from Monday 12th November to Friday 16th November 2007.  It will be located close to the The Sockman.

Anyone who would like to talk to PC Loyala Overlunde, the North Area Hate Crime Officers on Leicester (0116) 222 2222 ext 4134 or Charnwood Racial Equality Council on 01509 261651.

Information on Loughboroughs Local Policing Unit can be found on their website.