Leader backs new campaign to highlight hate crime support

The leader of the Council has backed a new campaign to highlight support for hate crime victims.

Councillor Mohammed Khan said the Council does not tolerate hate crime in any form so backed the “Let’s spell it out – this is hate” campaign.

It is being launched by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week which starts tomorrow (Saturday)

The campaign highlights hate crimes and incidents and raises awareness of how those affected can access help and support from Lancashire Victim Services (LVS).

Councillor Khan said:

We must always challenge hate. History has shown the dark places society can go to if we let hate take.

We are living in very challenging times and the binds that tie us together could become frayed.

But we as a borough are a friendly one. We are a resilient one. Most people in the borough are rightly disgusted by hate crime.

We must all tackle the small minority of people who foster it and hopes it takes hold.

I fully back this campaign and all efforts to eradicate hate crime in Lancashire and give the right support to victims.

The campaign, funded by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, also highlights hateful behaviour with the aim of encouraging people to think about how their words and actions can affect others.

Any crime or incident believed to be based on someone’s race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability is a hate crime or incident. People could also be a victim of hate crime if they believe they were targeted because the offender perceived them to be different in some way.

Campaign materials have been developed jointly between LVS, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and Lancashire Constabulary and have been shared with partners across the county including colleges and universities, community safety partnerships and local councils.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw added:

We all deserve to live our lives free from fear of abuse or attack. Targeting someone simply because of who they are is unacceptable.

I am proud of the diverse communities we have here in Lancashire and our county has to be a safe place for all who live here.

The support Lancashire Victim Services can provide is vital to help anyone affected to move forward and recover and I am proud to support this campaign to help spread this message. We must continue to stand together and say no to hate.

More details, including what is a hate crime and a link to Lancashire Victim Services, can be found here: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/crime-prevention-and-community-safety/anti-social-behaviour/hate-crime-reporting