Southend-on-Sea City Council and partners are working together to highlight the importance of Hate Crime Awareness Week.
The Community Safety Partnership which comprises the council, police, fire, and Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) are working together to mark Hate Crime Awareness Week (14 to 21 October) with a powerful campaign aimed at raising awareness, providing support, and reinforcing the message that there is 'no place for hate' in Southend-on-Sea.
A hate crime is any crime perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. It is a sad reflection of ignorance when individuals resort to verbal or physical abuse against those who are different.
Throughout the week, the Community Safety Partnership will host a series of events including Police activities at synagogues and mosques, the Fire Service will be doing hate crime assemblies at specific schools, and SAVs will be doing some educational work with restorative justice.
There will also be two pop-up events at the following locations:
- Tuesday 17 October at Tesco (Prince Avenue) from 11am to 1pm
- Thursday 19 October at Asda (Shoeburyness) from 3pm to 5pm
If you have been a victim or a witness of a hate crime, seek support and information from a trained Hate Crime Ambassador at one of the Hate Incident Reporting Centres (HIRCs). These community venues offer confidential advice and support, and provide various reporting options:
- speak directly to the police in person at a police station or call 999 for emergencies or 101 for non-urgent enquiries
- report online via True Vision
- report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
- reach out to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625 (free 24-hour helpline) or 0808 801 0576 (for under 18s)
Councillor James Courtenay, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “Hate crime has no place in our welcoming and inclusive city. It is an affront to the values we hold dear. We, as a community, reject such behaviour.
“Our Community Safety Partnership is working tirelessly to raise awareness, offer guidance, and shed light on the vital services offered by the Hate Incident Reporting Centres.
"These centres provide a secure space for individuals to report hate crimes. Their confidentiality ensures that those fearing retaliation can come forward without fear. We are committed to eradicating hate crimes from our city."
Chief Inspector Jo Collins, Southend District Commander for Essex Police, added: “Southend is a vibrant and diverse city where differences are celebrated, and people feel safe to be themselves.
“Hate crime is down by 18% in the past 12 months but we believe it is under-reported. It’s crucial that people tell us when these incidents happen so that we can investigate as hate crime can have a devastating impact on victims and the local community.
“Nobody should live in fear of abuse or harassment, and we are working closely with our partners to make sure that is the case.”
For more information on hate crime, what it is, and how you can report it, visit our Hate Crime page.