Hate Crime Reduction Initiative
Black Country Innovate CIC worked in partnership with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to carry out research that will provide an opportunity to improve the services for victims of hate crime in Walsall. They would like to hear from Walsall residents about experiences of hate crime.
Find out more about 'what is a hate crime?', how to report hate crime to the police or via third-party reporting centres, victim support, Safe Spaces in Walsall and more in the resources section of the website.
What is the Hate Crime Reduction Initiative?
Black Country Innovate C.I.C had a community-led approach which included a number of committed individuals, community organisations, places of worship, West Midlands Police, Walsall Council and the private sector to reduce all forms of hate crime across Walsall.
The Walsall Hate Crime Reduction Initiative was made up of the following elements:
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Reporting
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Research
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Support for those directly affected by hate crime
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Restorative Justice
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Public Awareness
Reporting
The reporting element raises awareness through different channels about ways of reporting hate crimes or incidents and what to do if someone experiences or witnesses a hate crime.
Research
The research aimed to collate data and statistics related to hate crime in Walsall, including but not limited to:
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The severity of hate crime
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The role of trigger events in the spike of hate crime
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The scope of online hate crime
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The reasons for the under-reporting of hate crime
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Victim satisfaction of services dealing with hate crime
The outcome of this research would be a completed report, which examines the needs and issues of hate crime victims and service users. Furthermore, the report can be used to provide services in Walsall with recommendations on how to improve in order to better approach and reduce hate crime.
Support
The support element of the Hate Crime Initiative provided support to individuals that have reported being a victim of a hate crime. The service will be assisted by trained volunteers, who will have the role of aiding delivery of support to the victims.
Restorative justice
Restorative justice is a process where the victim and perpetrator are provided with the opportunity to come together through facilitated discussion. The purpose of Restorative Justice is to find a positive outcome for everyone involved, through education of the perpetrator and closure for the victim.
Public awareness
In October 2019, Black Country Innovate delivered a two-day ‘Stand By Me’ Ambassador training course.
The aim of this course is to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence on hate crime and the various services that deal with it, as well as how to safely intervene as a bystander to a hate crime.
The Ambassador programme has been a success for Black Country Innovate, as two ambassadors were interviewed by BBC Midlands Today. They spoke about their personal experiences as hate crime victims, and now as Hate Crime Ambassadors. Additionally, the Director of Black Country Innovate, Nasar Iqbal, was interviewed by the BBC. Following on from the previous successes and the plan to increase public awareness, Black Country Innovate will be training another cohort of Stand By Me Ambassadors across the four localities in Walsall.
Hate Crime Awareness Campaign
Black Country Innovate CIC (with Safer Walsall Partnership and Walsall for All) delivered a campaign to raise awareness of hate crime, through people sharing their personal experiences and encouraging others to come forward if they experience or witness a hate crime. The films were produced by Method in Motion.
If you have been a victim or witness of a hate crime, the incident support service is here to listen and support you. To talk to someone in confidence please email admin@bc-innovate.co.uk
Useful links
