One Hundred People a Year Supported after Hate Crime Incidents in North East
Our Advocacy Service is speaking up about hate crime in the region as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week 2026 (10 – 17 October).
The Service – which has been supporting people faced with hate crimes since 2017 – has reported an average of 100 people a year seeking their support, which includes monthly drop-in sessions and personalised advocacy support. The Hate Crime Advocacy Service is free, independent and confidential.
Hate crimes reported include people targeted for their religion, the colour of their skin, perceived disabilities, sexual orientation and gender expression.
Above: Gus Ironside, Senior Advocacy Coordinator
Senior Advocacy Coordinator Gus Ironside is one of the leads on our hate crime work, which covers Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. He said:
“We’re sad to say that our services are still very much in-demand after almost a decade. People come to us who are frightened, anxious, and often unsure if they have even been a victim of a crime. We are here to explain their options, inform them of their rights, and if they wish, to support them through criminal proceedings to find justice.
“Our support can also extend to helping them resolve issues with their housing or workplace, where unfortunately hate crimes can also occur. No single experience is the same; we are always here to help and to listen.”
The service has also commissioned extensive research around hate crime in the region from Durham and Northumbria Universities. This 'Improving responses to Hate Relationships’ research pioneered the term ‘hate relationships’ to describe repeated patterns of hate incidents happening to people close to where they live, by people who are familiar to them.
We have also created an app to help people understand what a hate crime is and what to do about it, called HATE ID, which can be accessed here.
Gus added: “Hate crimes and hate relationships can affect anyone. Abuse can look like verbal and physical attacks, threats, online, damage to property and harassment. We want to help all victims of hate crime to feel safe, well, heard, independent and included.”
Hate Crime drop-in sessions take place on the third Monday of every month at the ONE Centre, Pelaw, in partnership with OUT North East and Northumbria Police. People who have experienced hate crime can also take part in peer support groups and free Know Your Rights self-advocacy training sessions.
Our hate crime work is funded by the Northumbria Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner with the support of Susan Dungworth, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.
