Leader announces major new conference on hate crime

The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has today said more needs to be done to crack down on hate crime in the borough.

Councillor Mohammed Khan said tackling the issue would be one of his top priorities.

Councillor Khan was speaking ahead of a major conference later this month which will bring agencies together to look at the extent of hate crime in borough and what more can be done to tackle it.

Professor Paul Iganski, an internationally renowned academic specialising in researching and writing on Hate Crime, will among the key speakers.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw and officers from Crown Prosecution Service and Lancashire Constabulary will also be in attendance.

Councillor Khan said:

“At Holocaust Memorial Day in January I spoke about the need to tackle hate crime because if it is left unchecked it can create the conditions for genocide.

“Hate crime must be challenged in all its forms and everyone has a responsibility to do so.

“Unfortunately, we have seen several incidents of hate crime recently so I was keen to get everyone together and focus on this as a major priority.”

“A lot of work is being done but we will ask the question – can we do more? And also what everyone can do to help us eradicate it from our borough.”

The Hate Crime Conference will take place on February 23 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Witton Park Academy.