Knowsley Council is encouraging people to report instances of hate crime, as we continue to share the message of ‘No More’ hate in our borough.
How to report hate crime?
If you have witnessed a hate crime, or have any information, please contact Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC via facebook or X. You can also call 101.
If, for any reason, you do not wish to the report to the police, Stop Hate UK will ensure you get the appropriate emotional and practical support. They offer a free, confidential and accessible 24/7 reporting service for all victims of Hate Crime, including multi-lingual reporting. You can report via the Stop Hate UK app, phone 0800 138 1625 or visit https://www.stophateuk.org/report-hate-crime/.
What is hate crime?
A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s:
- Race or perceived race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage
- Religion or perceived religion
- Sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
- Disability or perceived disability
- Gender Identity
Hate crime can usually fall into one of three main types: physical assault, verbal abuse and incitement to hatred.
Hate Crime can take many forms including:
- Verbal abuse or insults, offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes and bullying in school or the workplace.
- Threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive obscene telephone calls and offensive comments on social networking websites.
- Physical attack – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes or arson.
- ‘Mate crime’ – when somebody befriends a vulnerable person to take advantage of that vulnerability.
You can find out more about what Hate Crime is here.
Support available
There are a number of local organisations providing support for victims of hate crime in Knowsley. You can find them here on the Victim Care Merseyside website.