Raising awareness and encouraging the reporting of hate crimes and incidents is an important task throughout the year, but on Hate Crime Awareness week, Hyndburn council are taking the opportunity to highlight the issue.

This year, Lancashire Victim Services (LVS) have chosen the campaign ‘Let’s spell it out – This is hate’. It aims to highlight hateful behaviour with the aim of encouraging people to think about how their words and actions can affect others.

What is a hate crime? 

Any crime or incident believed to be based on someone’s race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability is a hate crime or incident. People could also be a victim of hate crime if they believe they were targeted because the offender perceived them to be different in some way.

Why should you report Hate Crimes?

If you tell us what is happening, different agencies (such as the Police, Local Authority, charities and housing providers) can take action against the perpetrator and support victims and witnesses.

When you report Hate Crimes, you are making a bigger difference than you may think. It helps you get support.  It helps us make your local area safer.

Who can I contact?

Anyone affected by hate crime can contact Lancashire Victim Services on 0300 323 0085, chat online at www.lancashirevictimservices.org or find out more about hate crime support at www.lancashirevictimservices.org/thisishate.

Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE said:

“We at Hyndburn are supporting the Lancashire Victim Services’ campaign ‘Let’s spell it out – This is hate’ and working with our communities to increase their understanding about what a hate crime is, why it is so important to us and how to report it.

Hate crime has no place in Hyndburn and we need anyone affected to know that there are services available that can support them.”