New Campaign Launches To Highlight 'Devastating Impact' Of Hate Crimes

A new campaign has been launched a new campaign to highlight the devastating impact that hate crime has on victims and to encourage everyone to report hate crime when they see it.

Launched by the PSNI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Police and Community Safety Partnerships and the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, the campaign has been developed to prompt the public to 'put yourself in their shoes' and think about how they would feel if they were on the receiving end of hate crime.

Launched during Hate Crime Awareness Week, PSNI Hate Crime lead, Superintendent Sue Steen said: "In the past 12 months, over 3,000 people have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident and in a modern and diverse society that is simply not acceptable.

"Northern Ireland has a reputation of being a welcoming place but that is not the experience of people who experience hate crimes or incidents.

"We all have a responsibility, individually and collectively, to work to challenge and eradicate hate in our society. It is also critical that victims report their experiences to police as we can only work to prevent crimes that we know about. If you feel that you cannot do this then we encourage you to contact the Hate Crime Advocacy Service for support."

John Blair MLA, Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Partnership Committee, said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland have an important role in protecting those who may become the victims of hate crime. How the Police Service do this is a key area of oversight for the Policing Board. Both the Policing Board, and the Policing and Community Policing Partnerships, want to play our part in encouraging people who experience hate crime to report this to police and call for those who perpetrate such incidents to stop and think about how they would feel if they were in a victims shoes."

Michael Avila from the Hate Crime Advocacy Service said: "The Police Service, and the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, work together to support the victims of hate crimes and incidents. We offer a safe and confidential space to provide help to victims and we can support you whether or not you have reported a crime to the police. Free and confidential help is available and we encourage anyone who has experienced a hate crime or incident to contact the Advocacy Service."