Solihull Council is proudly supporting the start of National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) 2021 from 9 October - 16 October. Hate has no place in the Solihull community and the Council holds a zero-tolerance attitude toward discriminatory and hateful acts.
This NHCAW, Solihull citizens are encouraged to share that message far and wide across social media, to raise even more awareness of this crime. The Council urges residents to report hate whenever they experience it – be it in person or online – to ensure Solihull is a place every citizen feels proud and safe to call home.
A hate crime is a criminal act targeted at a person or their property due to perceived disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender identity. Victims do not necessarily have to be a member of these groups to be targeted, anybody can be the victim of a hate crime.
Councillor Alison Rolf, Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities, said:
“In Solihull we are sending out the strong message that there is zero-tolerance for hate crime. Most importantly we encourage any victims or witnesses to speak out.
"By reporting an incident, you may be able to prevent it from happening to someone else. This will also aid the police in understanding the extent of hate crime in Solihull Borough, leading to more effective responses and support systems.
"We want to make Solihull a safe place for everyone who lives here and nobody should suffer in silence.”
Solihull Council's Chief Executive Nick Page, said:
“National Hate Crime Awareness Week gives us the opportunity to raise awareness of what a hate crime is and the support available for victims. It is important that people know that hate crime does not have to be physical violence, it can also be in the form of offensive language and harassment.
"We urge anyone who has experienced physical or verbal abuse to please get in contact as soon as possible. There are many ways to report - through the Police, the Council or a third party. All victims who report crimes against them can be assured they will be taken seriously.”
You can promote National Hate Crime Awareness Week on social media via the official NHCAW hashtags #WeStandTogether #NoPlaceForHate and #SafePlaceForAll - reflecting the aims of the campaign.
For more information about NHCAW and how to report a hate crime, please see the following links: