Public urged by police to report hate crimes

SOUTH Yorkshire Police has issued advice on what a hate crime is and the importance of reporting an incident.

The force said a hate crime was any crime targeted towards a person or their property which is perceived by any person to be because of their disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity or transgender identity.

A victim of a hate crime does not have to be a member of the group the hostility is directed towards.

It can constitute as name-calling, blackmail, harassment and assault, it is not necessarily always physical abuse.

South Yorkshire Police will also take reports of incidents which do not amount to a crime, but which are perceived by any person to be because of their disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity or transgender identity.

Det Chief Insp Melanie Palin, force lead for hate crime, said: “Hate crime incidents can have long lasting effects on a person and can affect how people live their lives.

“We appreciate just how difficult it can be for someone to come forward and talk to us about an incident, but by coming forward to report it, you are helping yourself and potentially others as reporting it could stop something similar happening to you again, or to someone else in the future.

“We do not tolerate any kind of hate crime and you shouldn’t have to either, so I would encourage anyone who is a victim, a witness, or who knows someone who has experienced hate crime, to come forward and report it so we can investigate the incident and seek to provide appropriate support.”

DCI Palin added: “Incidents of hate crime will be taken seriously and will be investigated, with every effort made to seek a positive outcome which meets the needs of the victim.

“This could involve working with partner agencies to identify tensions in a particular area for example, or to provide additional support.

“Our officers will provide support and can direct you to helpful organisations and charities who can offer continued support following an incident.”

To report a hate crime call 999 in an emergency or call 101 to report a crime that has already happened or online at www.southyorks.police.uk/reportcrime.