Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police, and Community and Faith representatives gathered to hold a positive meeting as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
With the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq, in attendance, both the strength and resilience of Somerset communities were celebrated as well as stories where hate crime and fear have been felt in recent months.
The importance of reporting hate crime was stressed by all present – anyone experiencing such an offence should report it via Avon and Somerset Police’s Report hate crime page.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Communities, was one of those who attended the meeting. She said:
The group reaffirmed how working in partnership and collaboration continues to help our wonderful diverse communities flourish and noted how important it is for individuals to report any instances to the police.
Council Leader Bill Revans has recently spoken out to condemn incidents of hate crime in Somerset and stressed that “Hate has no home in Somerset”. Addressing Full Council he said:
Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. By recognising and embracing our differences, we lay the foundation for stronger, more resilient communities – ensuring Somerset remains a place where everyone belongs.
Whether you’re a victim, a family member / friend of a victim or a witness, anybody can report a hate crime or a non-crime hate incident:
- Report to Avon and Somerset Police online
- Report via True Vision – a police-funded website dedicated to hate crime
- Visit your local enquiry office
- Call 101
- Always call 999 in an emergency, when a crime is taking place or somebody is in immediate danger.
Your report will be carefully reviewed, investigated and dealt with robustly if there is evidence of a hate crime. If it doesn’t quite meet the hate crime threshold, the detail you provide will still be recorded and used to keep track of incidents and behaviour that could escalate into a more serious offence.
For more information about support available to victims of hate crime, or for details around alternative ways to report, visit Avon and Somerset Police’s Support for victims of hate crime page.
