Tackling Hate Crime: Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner funding increased
Thank you, you've been the first person who's listened and helped us to move forward with this. I now know who to report to and am more confident with the process.
As we approach Hate Crime Awareness Week, which takes place from 8 - 15 October, we’re delighted that Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner has not only extended their funding for our Hate Crime Advocacy Service to the end of March 2023, but also increased it so that we can add to the staffing of the service.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said:
Hate crime is not tolerated in Northumbria and we are committed to doing all we can to improve lives and support those who are targeted for simply being themselves. The advocacy scheme was the first service of its kind in the country – really putting the North-East and how seriously we take hate crime on the map. I’ve watched the project go from strength to strength, evolving to meet the needs of victims, society and changing policies, and it’s a scheme I continue to fund and support with pride.
Increase in demand
This will help us to meet the huge demand for this service which provides vital Independent Advocacy for people who have experienced hate crime or been targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.
We have seen a rising number of referrals since the start of the Covid Pandemic consistent with increasing hate crime attacks reported in the media.
I am so honoured to have been looked out for by you... Your unconditional help will be staying with me for as long as I am recovering from this ordeal.
Increase in hate crime reports
The Home Office has announced the latest hate crime statistics for the year ending March 2022. There were 155,841 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales - a 26% increase compared to the previous year. Figures for each type of hate crime are:
- Race hate crime: 109,843 - up 19%
- Religious hate crime: 8,730 - up 37%
- Sexual Orientation hate crime: 26,152 - up 41%
- Disability hate crime: 14,242 - up 43%
- Transgender hate crime: 4,355 - up 56%
Pink News highlighted in Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime reports explode across UK, damning police figures confirm (15/8/22) that reports of homophobic hate crimes more than doubled in five years and transphobic hate crimes swelled by 240% in the same period.
Data published by the Home Office shows that “racially and religiously aggravated offences recorded by police in England and Wales hit a fresh high in 2021, with reaction to England's defeat at the men’s Euro football championships likely to have contributed to the increase. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions is another factor named by forces as having led to the rise in offences, along with improved recording of hate crimes The Press Association (23/6/22)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission warned:
more still needs to be done to improve the quality of support for victims
Watch our film Hate relationships: New understandings of hate crime to hear victim/survivors talk about their experiences and the difference support from our Hate Crime Advocacy service has made.
Find out more about our Hate Crime Advocacy Service
If you would like to make a referral for yourself or someone else to this to our Hate Crime Advocacy Service please go to our Referral section and fill in a Community Advocacy Referral Form.
