Law enforcement and local authorities in Greater Manchester have
united to send a clear message during Hate Crime Awareness Week –
that hate incidents and hate crime will not be tolerated here.
Launching on Monday 3 February, the initiative will see all ten
boroughs in the region join forces with Greater Manchester Police
(GMP) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The collaboration underscores a collective commitment from
leaders to combat hate crimes. These are acts of violence or
hostility directed at individuals due to their race, religion,
sexual orientation, disability, or other protected
characteristics. The partnership aims to create a safer and more
inclusive environment for all residents.
A key focus of Hate Crime Awareness Week is to encourage the
public to report hate crimes, particularly through third-party
reporting centres. These offer a safe and confidential space for
victims and witnesses without having to go directly to the
police.
As well as sending a message of unity in our communities, the
week aims to make it easier to report crimes and ensure the
public knows that every incident is taken seriously.
Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities said:
“Greater Manchester is a place where everyone should feel safe to
be themselves. No one should face violence, abuse, or hatred just
because of who they are, who they love, where they're from, what
they look like or what they believe.
“I encourage anyone who has been a victim of a hate crime to
speak up and get support – whether that's via one of the many
third-party reporting centres in the region or by directly
reporting the matter to the police.
“The Hate Crime Plan that we released last October was a
statement of our commitment to tackling hate and prejudice in our
society. I am proud of the diverse communities that make up our
city-region and I will continue to work hard to ensure that
Greater Manchester is a welcoming place to live, work and visit.”
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester
City Council said:
"In Manchester we are proud to stand against those who would look
to sow division and hatred in society. It can be a devastating
experience to be the victim of a hate crime which is why it is so
important to provide safe spaces where victims can report what
they have experienced.
"Incredible strides have been made over the years to ensure
people can be free to be themselves, and now more than ever we do
not want to see that progress reversed. Manchester will always be
a city where anyone can be accepted and where diversity is
something that is celebrated, not demonised."
GMP has emphasised that it takes all reports of hate crime
seriously and reiterated its commitment to bring offenders to
justice.
Superintendent Mike Russell, GMP's force lead for hate
crime, said:
“People who commit hate crimes cause fear and suffering within
our communities. Everyone has the right to live without the
threat of being harmed because of their race, religious beliefs,
sexual orientation, values and culture.
“Greater Manchester is proud of its rich, diverse heritage and we
should continue to celebrate and learn from our differences,
instead of being divided by malicious behaviours and
ill-conceived ideologies.
“Hate crimes can have a devastating and long-term impact on
victims. It is our role as police to protect the public, keep
people safe from harm and do all we can to bring criminals to
justice, and we are working alongside our partners to achieve
this.
“There is nothing positive about hate crime and we all have a
responsibility to report related incidents when we know of them
taking place.”
For assistance and support if you have been a victim of hate
crime, or to report an incident, visit letsendhatecrime.com.
You can report hate crime directly, and anonymously if you wish,
to GMP by calling 101 or online: www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/hate-crime/triage/v1/report-hate-crime/
