BROMSGROVE residents are being encouraged to report incidents of hate crime in the town as part of a countywide initiative for Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Hate crimes count as any incidents where people are targeted because of their disability, race, colour, religion, beliefs, ethnic origin, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender identity or age, and the council is hoping to encourage more people to report these types of crime when they occur.

As part of the awareness week, people are being invited to attend a conference on learning disability hate crime, which is taking place at Hindlip Police Headquarters in Worcester, which will include interactive theatre, details on reporting a hate incident and how to access the Worcestershire Safe Place Scheme.

JP Ken Hazeledene chair of the North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnership, said: “No one deserves to be targeted for being who they are. It is really important that we don’t just ignore hate crime and ‘let someone else deal with it’. Hate crime is shockingly underreported – particularly disability hate crime – so I hope this campaign encourages people to speak up in the future.”

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a hate incident, can report it to police on the non-emergency number 101 or the emergency number 999. Alternatively they can pick up a form from Bromsgrove Customer Service Centre based in the Dolphin Centre on School Drive, visit unitedagainsthate.co.uk or call 0300 3038838.

The conference is taking place on Wednesday, October 14 from 10am to 3pm. For more information, write to communitysafety@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.