Councillor Mohammed Khan
Published Monday 15 October 2018 at 9:25
The Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has reiterated his stance on hate crime as National Hate Crime Awareness Week begins.
Councillor Mohammed Khan said:
As a Council we will not tolerate hate crime in any form in Blackburn with Darwen. Two years ago all councillors were unanimous in their support for a motion that highlights our commitment to ensuring hate crime does not become acceptable in our communities. We continue to stand firm in our zero tolerance approach to crimes of this nature.
Councillors unanimously agreed the following motion at Council Forum in July 2016:
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crime unequivocally. We will not allow hate crime to become acceptable. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council will work to ensure local bodies and programmes have support needed to fight and prevent racism and we reassure all people living in Blackburn with Darwen that they are valued members of our community.
Hate Crime Awareness Week runs from 13 to 20 October. During the week, Lancashire Police is encouraging people across the county to sign up to their #SayNoToHate pledge. Sign up now.
In Blackburn on Wednesday 17 October the Care Network Hub in Town Hall Street is hosting a Hate Crime Awareness Week event, run by Resolve, Care Network’s peer support group for people who have experienced hate crime. Drop into their premises opposite Blackburn Central Library between 1pm and 4pm for an afternoon of equality, acceptance, love and kindness as they aim to ‘Spread Love Not Hate’.
During half term Blackburn Youth Zone is taking a group of young people away on a five day residential aimed at exploring themes around hate crime. The #OneBlackburn – Don’t Hate, Educate trip aims to teach young people aged 12 to 14 years about what counts as hate crime and how we can all work together to challenge it.