More to be done to encourage hate crime reporting

With just one in five hate crimes being reported in Devon, local agencies say more needs to be done to encourage its victims to come forward.

Progress is being made to gain the trust of minority groups, and in raising awareness of hate crime, which is resulting in a rise in reporting to Police.

But under-reporting means that crimes against disabled or gay people or people of minority race for example are going unnoticed, leaving victims unsupported and perpetrators unchallenged.

Saturday 11 to the 18 October sees Devon Hate Crime Awareness Week, and the members of the Safer Devon Partnership have funded events and activities across the county to focus attention to the issues and to encourage people to report hate crime to the police.

The programme of events, all free to attend, is available online at www.devon.gov.uk/hcawdevon2014.pdf, or by emailing dave.wright@devon.gov.uk or telephoning 07971 267502.

Last year, 603 hate crimes and incidents were reported to Devon and Cornwall Police.  National research suggests that the actual number of incidents could be as much as five times that level.

The Safer Devon Partnership has been working with the police and with local communities to improve trust and to encourage victims to report.

As a result, disablist hate crime rose by almost 400 per cent, from 13 incidents reported across Devon in 2011/12 to 64 incidents reported in 2013/14.  Other significant rises in reporting have been seen for homophobic crime and transphobic crime.

Within the county, South Devon recorded the highest overall increase in reports to the Police last year, with an additional 112 hate crimes reported.  Exeter, East and Mid Devon areas recorded the lowest increase, with 12 additional crimes reported on the 2011/12 figures.

There has been a 11 per cent rise in the reporting of racist hate crimes.

Loraine Engstrom, Service Delivery Manager South Devon for Victim Support, said:

"We find that victims of hate crime have feelings of persecution and helplessness.

"The ripple effect on their family, friends and the wider community has a far reaching impression.

"At Victim Support, we help them to overcome the impact of crime by providing emotional and practical support, as well as help through the court process."

Michael Halls, Executive Director of  the Intercom Trust, which runs a confidential Helpline for LGBT people across the South West, said: “Homophobic and Transphobic crime has the most devastating impact on people’s self-esteem and confidence. This can sometimes lead to people feeling unable to leave their home, unable to cope with their workplace or their own family, or wanting to move out of the area.

"These incidents really strike at the heart of people’s sense of who they are, and do immense harm to social health and wellbeing.”

Councillor Barry Parsons, Cabinet Member with responsibility for community engagement at Devon County Council, which coordinated the programme of events, said: "We are taking part in National Hate Crime Awareness week to continue the process of increasing awareness of Devon's diversity, of helping more people to understand what hate crime is, and encouraging victims to report.

"I am delighted to see so many voluntary and community sector organisations working together to contribute to the week.

"Hate crime is a serious problem in society.  No one should have to endure verbal or physical abuse because they are seen as different.  And it's not just a problem in big, inner cities.

"The programme of activities will explore Devon's diversity and how to prevent hate and prejudice that can undermine the strength of our community."

The Safer Devon Partnership is made up of the following Partners:

Devon County Council
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Devon and Somerset Fire Service
Devon and Cornwall Probation Trust
New Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
South Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
Safer North Devon
South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership
Exeter Community Safety Partnership
East and Mid Devon Community Safety Partnership
Devon ReForm
Police and Crime Commissioner