Hate crime campaign launched during awareness week at community centre

A two-week campaign raising awareness of hate crime was launched to coincide with Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week (4-10 February) at a Rochdale community centre.

Several events took place at Deeplish Community Centre, in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Borough Council’s Community Safety Team, running throughout the week.

Hate crime is any crime targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards them for any of the following reasons: disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, alternative subculture, trans and gender reassignment. 

Operations manager at Deeplish Community Centre, Sohail Ahmad opened this year’s campaign.

He said: “We are proud to launch this campaign and be part of a regional movement to promote safer neighbourhoods, working with organisations and individuals who are committed to community cohesion, peace and tolerance.

“We are proud of our borough, which has always supported our communities.”

Local Imams also delivered valuable advice, saying: “Hate crime affects everyone: we must stand together.

“If we educate people, talk to them about our similarities and differences, we will live together harmoniously.

“We are all the same, a human race and we all bleed red.”

Greater Manchester Police held a group session with youths to explain hate crime, what to do if you are a victim of a hate crime and how to report such incidents.

GMP’s Inspector Darren Callaghan said: “I am pleased to see so many participants in attendance. It is vital that the public has the confidence to report all forms of hate crimes, so that we can bring an end to prejudice and discrimination in communities.

“This campaign is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the different types of hate crimes and demonstrate how necessary and vital it is that communities group together to report and stamp out all forms of hate crime.”

Ward councillor Sameena Zaheer highlighted the importance of reporting hate crimes and importance of multicultural and cohesive society.

She also emphasised women’s empowerment and confidence in challenging any hate crime, adding: “We need to promote peace, love and social harmony and this can eliminate hate and crime in our community.

“By way of reporting crimes, we are promoting justice and reducing crimes. Deeplish is one of the hate crime reporting centres and anyone can visit for help and support in reporting hate crimes online.”

Hate crimes can be reported via the police non-emergency 101 number (in an emergency, always dial 999), by calling independent charity Crime Stoppers can also be contacted on 0800 555 111 or online via the Report It website:

• www.report-it.org.uk