Reminder that we all have responsibility to challenge hate crime

❝ Now more than ever I encourage people to report all hate crimes ... there is no place for hate in our communities

IT’S Hate Crime Awareness Week, which serves as an important reminder of the responsibility that we all have to challenge hate crime and report it to the police.

Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) were one of the first forces in 2017 to recognise gender-based hate (including misogyny) as a hate crime, which is especially important because misogyny is an issue that intersects with several other offences that impact the safety of women and girls.

The tragic murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa have thrown into sharp focus police responses to male violence against women and girls.

I understand that public trust and confidence in the police is fragile and I will be doing all I can in my role, as PCC and as Chair of the Local Criminal Justice Board, to ensure that charging processes for those who have committed acts of male violence against women and girls are improved.

Now more than ever I encourage people to report all hate crimes, including gender-based hate crimes, as there is no place for hate in our communities.

A hate crime is any criminal offence that is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s gender (including misogyny), race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender.

Put simply, a hate crime involves somebody being targeted because of a protected characteristic. If you are a victim or witness of a hate crime, please report it to Avon and Somerset Police by calling 101 or 999 if there is an immediate threat to life.

Black History Month continues throughout October and I am delighted to share that both ASP and the ASP Black Police Association (BPA) are celebrating awards that recognise their work on progressing the causes of inclusion and diversity.

Avon and Somerset Police have received an Outstanding Contribution to Diversity Award for their participation in the Stepping Up scheme in Bristol, a leadership development and mentoring programme run by Bristol City Council, which aims to unlock the potential and develop the talents of people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Whilst the ASP’s BPA Outreach Volunteers have been shortlisted for a team award at this year’s Lord Ferrers Awards, an annual Home Office event which recognises the vital role that volunteers play in support of policing and community safety across England and Wales.

ASP continue to work hard in order to achieve their ambition of becoming the most inclusive police force in the country.

Finally, I attended a two-day Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) general meeting this week, which provided me with the opportunity to meet PCCs from across the country and discuss my role as the new APCC lead for Economic and Cyber Crime (including fraud). Fraud, more specifically phishing scams, was recently mentioned at a series of joint public surgeries that I held with Chris Skidmore MP.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre by calling 0300 123 2040.