A Hertfordshire council has announced incidents of hate crime can now be reported to the customer service centre in their offices, without the need to go to a police station.
North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) has decided to become a ‘third party reporting centre’ in order to ‘provide a safe haven for victims and witnesses to a hate crime’, a councillor said.
They have also provided special training to a number of staff members so they can offer support and a safe environment for victims of racism and xenophobia.
Cllr Tony Hunter, NHDC’s executive member for community engagement, said: ‘The Council welcomes diversity and has always had a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.’
Hate crime is any offence which targets someone with hostility or prejudice towards their disability, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
‘Hate crime is wrong, it is against the law, and everyone has the right to live safely in the district without fear,’ Cllr Hunter continued.
‘No two individuals are the same – we need to embrace individuality and diversity and help put an end to hate crime by reporting it.’
