Hate Crime

Hate Crime - A Menace in Society.

Within the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership (TCSP) is the Promote Tolerance Delivery Group - Hate Crime Panel. They are responsible for reducing hate crime in Thurrock. The group has membership from TRUST (Thurrock Racial Unity Support Taskgroup), Basildon DIAL, Thurrock & Basildon Friends, Citizens advice bureau, Thurrock Asian Association, Victim Support, Essex Police, Thurrock Council (corporate diversity, education, anti-social behaviour, community services, and community safety), Black & Minority Ethnic Group and probation.

The terms of reference for the Promote Tolerance Delivery Group (Hate Crime Panel) are below (please see how to access PDFs):

Vision Statement

"Thurrock is committed to preventing hate crime. You report, We Respond, and Together we can make a positive difference"

The group will seek to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour by addressing hate crime and hate incidents.

Hatred is a strong term that goes beyond simply causing offence or hostility. Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:

  • race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
  • religion
  • gender or gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • disability

Hate crime can take many forms including:

  • physical attacks - such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
  • threat of attack - including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints
  • verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace
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Our definition of Hate incidents and crime

Hate Incident
"Any incident, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate."
Hate Crime
"Any Hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate."
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Key Objectives

  • Make Thurrock a place that respects different communities and tackles the issues of discrimination
  • Ensure that residents feel safe and valued as individuals, enabling them to participate in the prevention of hate crime
  • To combat all forms of hate crime by developing a consistent, multi -agency response which proactively tackles the issue of hate crime, provides victim focused solutions, and takes firm action against perpetrators
  • Encourage reporting of hate crime and development of framework with which to capture data
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Targets

  • To raise awareness, visibility and understanding of hate crime
  • To identify the causes of hate crime
  • To increase reporting of all hate crime
  • To provide a coordinated response to victims
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Action Plans

[ please see how to access PDF files ]

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Help And Support

In an emergency always contact the police:

Dial: 999

  • "I never felt different - until I was beaten up"
  • "I never felt different - until the name calling started"
  • "I never felt different - until it was my car always being damaged"

Make a difference - report it!

Please call Thurrock's 24-7 helpline if you are a victim of hate crime: 0300 333 4444 ext 360371

Essex Police

Essex police have dedicated hate crime units, which will provide specialised advice.

Officers will deal positively with hate crime incidents and can take action to protect you from further abuse.

Tel: 0300 333 4444 Available 24 hrs (hate crime investigators are available 8am-10pm)

Thurrock's Anti-social Behaviour team

Hate Crime is Anti-social, if you are experiencing hate crime contact our ASB team on 01708 891394, or if you are a council tenant talk to your local housing manager in confidence:

  • South Ockendon: 01375 413800
  • Grays: 01375 652880
  • Purfleet: 01708 864898
  • Chadwell: 01375 413810
  • Stanford: 01375 413830
  • Tilbury: 01375 413820

Victim Support

Victim Support is an organisation set up to offer emotional support and practical advice to victims of crime, including hate crime. The service offers:

  • Free and confidential advice
  • Trained volunteers to listen to you in a safe place
  • Practical advice about the steps you may wish to take
  • Support you in court, when necessary

Tel: 08454565 995

www.victimsupport.org.uk

Citizen's advice bureau

Citizen's advice bureaus are independent and impartial, providing free confidential advice.

Contact us on 0870 126 4034

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Essex Probation Service

The probation service: the thread running all the way through the Criminal Justice System.

  • Advising on sentencing in court
  • Managing a community sentence
  • During sentences of imprisonment
  • Post release, on return into the community
  • Dealing with the causes of crime

Essex Probation Service, Five Wells, West Street, Grays, Essex. RM17 6LN
Tel: 01375 382285

www.essexprobation.org.uk

For support with Racial hate crime:

T.R.U.S.T.

Thurrock's racial unity support taskgroup working together for a just and harmonious society in Thurrock

Tel: 01375 385316

www.thurrock-trust.org.uk

TRUST - Do you need help with racial incident? (PDF 195.9kB)

Thurrock Asian Association

Resource Centre, 35 Clarence Rd, Grays

Tel: 01375 404917 (opening hours 1pm-5pm)

For support with Disability Hate Crimes

D.I.A.L. Disablement Information & Advice Line

Call us on: 0845 450 3001

or e-mail us at

For support with homophobic crimes

Basildon and Thurrock Friend ... here to listen, support and inform

Telephone helpline for Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexual People, Their Families and Friends

Call us on: 01268 284422 Helpline available Fridays 7.30pm to 9.30pm Confidential answerphone at other times.

Essex Gay Men Social Support Group

Essex Gay Men's Initiative have set up a social support group which meets in Grays.

For more information contact them on:

For support with transgender crimes:

TransLiving International A voluntary self-help network dedicated to

serving the needs of Crossdressers, Transvestites, Transsexuals, their families, partners and friends.

Helpline: Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm - 01268 583761

www.transliving.co.uk

Make a difference report it!

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What can you do to combat crime?

For a practical guide to personal safety visit: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/yp/ypgcp05.htm

For further information on violent crime visit victim supports web site: www.victimsupport.org.uk

If you would like a personal attack alarm or purse chain please contact the Community Safety Partnership on 01375 652301 or e-mail safer.Thurrock.gov.uk.

(please note available to residents of Thurrock only)

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Are you being bullied? Do you know someone who is being bullied? Are you involved in bullying someone?

The following websites will provide confidential help & advice:

www.gethelpwithbullying.org.uk

www.kidscape.org.uk or e-mail them at

Childline 0800 1111. A Free and confidential helpline for children and young people in the UK. Lines open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Connexions 080 800 13 2 19 for young people aged 13-19. Calls from a landline are free. You will be charged for using a mobile, but they will ring you back.

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Useful Links to external Web Sites

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 - call anonymously with information about crime.