As part of National Hate Crime Week Richmond, the Police and other key partners have pledged to help drive it out of the Borough.

Between July 2018 to July 2019, there were 323 incidents of reported hate crimes in the borough.

233 of these incidents related to racist and religious hate crime.

Richmond takes hate crime very seriously has its own Vulnerabilities Manager that provides advice, guidance and support for hate crime victims.

Sally Benatar, Police Chief Superintendent said: “There is no place for hate in the borough of Richmond, which is why we are pleased to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week in partnership with Richmond Council.

“It is important to raise awareness of hate crime so that people can spot it and report it.

“It’s not OK to be targeted because of who you are – or who people think you are.

“We want everyone to feel confident in reporting hate crime incidents to the police, so that we can investigate and provide you, or the person you are concerned about, with the right level of support.”

Richmond is also encouraging residents to contact the police if they have been targeted because of their race, religion, sexuality, gender or disability.

Hate crime does not have to include physical violence - it can be online and, other forms of hate crime also include using offensive language towards or harassing someone because of who they are.

Cllr Roberts, Leader of the Council, said: “We all have a right to live without fear, hostility and intimidation from others because of who we are.

"Hate crime can have devastating consequences on individuals and communities.

“Our borough indeed the whole country, should be a safe environment for people of all ages, genders, faiths, and nationalities.

“That’s why it is vital that we raise awareness of hate crime by reporting it.

“I fully understand the fear of getting involved, however if we turn blind eye to hate crime then we risk it becoming normalised, we risk it becoming commonplace.

“We have worked too hard as a society, over many decades, to risk sliding back to a point where racism, homophobia and religious intolerance are considered mainstream.”

Richmond also works closely with Stop Hate UK, who provide independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims and witnesses of hate crime.

They have a 24-hour telephone number for people to report hate crime.

If you are a victim of hate crime or have witnessed a hate crime call:

0800 138 1625

Or visit:

www.stophateuk.org/report-hate-crime.