Speak out about hate crime
Last week Police Scotland supported National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Hate Crime is any criminal offence committed against an individual or property that is motivated by a person’s hatred of someone because of his or her actual or perceived race, religion, transgender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
Hate Crime is wrong and it is against the law.
Everyone has the right to live safely and without fear.
In some cases the victims of Hate Crime do not feel comfortable reporting the matter directly to the Police and may feel more comfortable reporting it to someone they are familiar with.
To ensure all victims and witnesses are able to report Hate Crimes, Police Scotland works in partnership with a wide variety of partners who perform the role of Third Party Reporting Centres.
Staff within Third Party Reporting Centres have been trained to assist a victim or witness in submitting a report to the Police and can make such a report on the victim/witnesses behalf.
In East Kilbride and Strathaven there are eight Third Party Reporting Centres: East Kilbride Central Library; East Kilbride Citizens Advice Bureau; East Kilbride Shopmobility; East Kilbride Shopping Centre Customer Service; East Kilbride Q&A; South Lanarkshire College; East Kilbride Bus Station and Strathaven Leisure Centre.
If you have been the victim of Hate Crime or you have witnessed a Hate Crime and you will wish to speak with someone in confidence without speaking directly to a Police Officer, please attend at any of the above locations during their opening times and ask to speak with their Third Party Reporting staff member who will speak with you in private and offer advice and support.
You can also report a Hate Crime by phoning 999 in an emergency or 101 in non-emergency circumstances. There is also a Hate Crime Reporting Form on the Police Scotland website.
Also this week, Police Scotland has issued a drugs warning following the death of a 16-year-old girl in Newtongrange, Midlothian.
The ecstasy tablet suspected of causing the teenagers death is known as Red Bugatti Veyron and Purple Ninja Turtle.
Police Scotland is advising anyone who has taken these tablets to seek immediate medical attention.
My officers have not come across this type of tablet in East Kilbride and Strathaven, however, I would encourage all parents/guardians of young people in our area to warn them of the potentially life threatening effects of illegal drugs and new psychoactive substances.