Take a stand against hate, says Deputy Mayor for Policing

Photo: GMP

Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Beverley Hughes

Ahead of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Bev Hughes has called on communities to stand together once again against hate.

This call for unity comes after figures from GMP show there has been a significant increase in reports hate crimes taking place across Greater Manchester. In the past three years reporting has risen by nearly 55%, from 3,099 reports in January 2014 to 5,639 reports in January 2017.

This is largely due to increased confidence amongst those who have experienced hate to come forward, driven by significant work that has been done by police, partner agencies, and communities themselves to encourage victims to report hate. However, events such as the Brexit vote and the aftermath of the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena saw spikes in hate crime incidents.

Bev said: “Nobody should live in fear about being persecuted for who they are or what they believe. Here in Greater Manchester we take a zero tolerance approach to all forms of hate crime. That’s why we have one of the highest reporting rates of hate crime in the country. But we know it’s just the tip of the iceberg and many, many people who have been subjected to abuse or violence because of who they are still suffer in silence.

“That is why it’s so important that we have awareness weeks like this. It shines a light on these dreadful crimes, give victims a voice, and shows that Greater Manchester will stand together against hate.