Glasgow campaign gets tough on Hate Crime

Glasgow's Hate Crime awareness raising campaign starts Monday 22 October, urging victims and witnesses to speak out and report Hate Crimes.

A Hate Crime is any crime motivated by prejudice or hate against a person because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.

Glasgow has a Zero Tolerance stance on the issue and was the first Scottish city to mark Hate Crime Awareness Week in a bid to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward.

The city council has a team of ambassadors raising awareness of the issue and fostering support for the campaign to help tackle it.

The campaign, co-ordinated by Community Safety Glasgow, calls on agencies to work alongside key partners and communities affected by hate crime and encourage people to speak out and report them.

There are a number of ways to report a hate crime. There are more than 60 Third Party Reporting Centres in Glasgow where staff have been trained by Police Scotland to provide help and support to victims. They include housing associations, Victim Support, Glasgow Disability Alliance, LGBT Youth Scotland and many more.

Councillor Jennifer Layden, City Convener for Equalities and Human Rights

Councillor Jennifer Layden, City Convener for Equalities and Human Rights, is calling on people of Glasgow to play their part and help put an end to Hate Crime.

Cllr Layden said: "The campaign is about improving public awareness of the nature of hate crime and how to respond to it. This includes encouraging people to report hate crimes and educating our young people about diversity, equality and inclusion.

"We all have a responsibility to stand up against Hate Crime and support the victims. Those who commit a Hate Crime do so to intimidate victims and instil fear. It can be very difficult for people to come forward which is why it is extremely important we create an atmosphere where victims feel able to report incidents without fear.

"No one should have to put up with this kind of abuse. Please don't stay silent about Hate Crime. Report it either directly to Police Scotland or any one of the city's Third Party Reporting Centres. It can also be reported online at www.hatecrimescotland.org."

Bailie Marie Garrity, Chair of the Glasgow Hate Crime Working Group

Bailie Marie Garrity, Chair of the Glasgow Hate Crime Working Group, said: "Hate Crime will not be tolerated in Glasgow.   A huge amount of work goes on year-round to tackle unacceptable behaviour and support victims.

"Events such as this (Hate Crime Awareness Week) aims to encourage the public to come forward and speak out.  A lot of work goes on to help identify the barriers preventing victims from speaking out and, more importantly, to find practical steps that can be taken to remove them.

"It's important for people to know that anyone who is targeted because of a disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity will have their report taken seriously if they speak out."

Chief Inspector Michael Duddy, Police Scotland Greater Glasgow Division

Chief Inspector Michael Duddy, Police Scotland Greater Glasgow Division, said: "We are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms.  It's completely unacceptable to target a person or a social group because of who they are.  It can have prolonged and devastating effects which is why it is so important for anyone who is or has been the victim of Hate Crime to report it - either directly to us at Police Scotland or at one of our Third Party Reporting Centres. By speaking out about Hate Crime we can show the perpetrators that it has no place in Glasgow or elsewhere."

Glasgow Hate Crime Working Group

Glasgow's Hate Crime Working Group is comprised of agencies including Glasgow City Council, Community Safety Glasgow, Police Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Victim Support Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance, West of Scotland Regional Equality Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Wheatley Group and Glasgow Adult Protection Committee.

Further information

A host of information and material is available here including the Glasgow Hate Crime pledge.  Why not take the selfie pledge and show the world Glasgow is not staying silent about hate crime.