This week marks National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) and Barking and Dagenham Council is standing with the community and saying, ‘no to hate’.

This year, NHCAW runs from Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 October and the council will be marking the week with an event in Barking Market on Thursday 16 October.

Officers from the council’s Community Safety Enforcement and Antisocial Behaviour Teams, alongside the police, will be on hand at information stalls to provide information and support for any concerns and to answer any questions.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Addressing hate crime is a key priority for the council and our partners year-round. We’re proud to be a welcoming and inclusive borough and we work closely with local partners to stand against hate in all its forms. Nobody should suffer it, and we need people to report any incidents. 

“Whether you’re a victim or witness to hate crime, please don’t stay silent - report it to the police or the council so we can take action.”

Hate crime is any crime that targets a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Residents can report hate crime by heading to the council website.