Hate Crime

Why report hate?

There are important reasons to report hate incidents, even if you do not want to share the information with the Police.

If you report to the Council, we will not share information with the Police without your permission. The only exception would be if we were legally obliged to, for example if a child or someone else was at risk.

Any hate crime that is reported to the Police is treated seriously, even if it could be classed as a minor incident. If the Police find out that a crime is motivated by hatred, they will treat the incident very seriously.

Even without passing the information onto the Police, the Council will use the basic information you give them to monitor the type and extent of these incidents, and use this information towards providing better services for people who live, visit, work or study within Barking and Dagenham.

By looking at the basic information you give the Council we may be able to identify 'hot spots' and warn members of the community to be vigilant in areas where incidents are happening.

Even if you do not see the person's face, one small piece of evidence, like the time and place of the incident, might tie in with other reports. Ultimately, people who come forward and speak out about this are the key to stopping it happening again.

Witness reporting

Research suggests that one in for people ignore hate crime if they see it. However, witnesses can provide valuable information about incidents that can help a victim to get a successful outcome.

We have designed our hate reporting scheme to be available for people who witness an incident to use. Even the smallest detail could prove to be the missing piece of a jigsaw.

Reporting methods

Report to Stop Hate UK (24 hours a day) on 0800 138 1625|

Stop Hate UK is a charity, raising awareness of all types of hate crime and supporting the individuals and communities that are affected by it.

They are based in Leeds and have been commissioned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to provide the 24 hour helpline to those who live, work or study in Barking and Dagenham. We are the first London Borough that Stop Hate UK has worked with.

The 24 hour helpline offers immediate support for victims of hate crime, and provides a method of reporting which is alternative to the Police (thereby fulfilling Recommendation 16 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry). If you give your permission to the Stop Hate UK telephone operators your report will be shared with the Council and the local Police for action.

Report to the council

When you report to the Council, either online; over the phone or face to face your report will be sent to our Hate Crime Project Coordinator, who will with your permission pass the report immediately to the Police.

In relation to the response that the Council can offer, we will first allocate your case to one of our specialist officers who will contact you, where is safe to do so, to discuss your case, carry out a risk assessment and talk to you about what support you are requiring. We will then endeavour to support you in achieving a positive outcome.

Interventions may include; offering you security improvements for your home; the provision of CCTV at your address; antisocial behaviour remedies; referrals to specialist support agencies; the provision of temporary accommodation; and/or graffiti removal.

We will contact you again, 14 days after your report is received, to check to see how things are going and that you are happy with the service you are receiving.

Your wishes will always inform interventions that we offer you.

Process for hate incident reports to the Council|

Contact

Domestic Violence and Hate Crime Manager

Community Safety and Prevention

Roycraft House

15 Linton Road

Barking

IG11 8HE

Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:

Tel: 020 8215 3010

Fax: 020 8227 5184

Textphone: 020 8227 5755

Email: hatecrime@lbbd.gov.uk|

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.

Stop Hate Crime 24 hour helpline: 0800 138 1625