Police issue hate crime warning amid Covid-19 pandemic and say don't suffer in silence

Cleveland Police say people are still being targeted simply for their sexuality, race, religion or disability during the Covid-19 pandemic.

And while there have been no incidents specifically linked to Covid-19 so far, they urge anyone who does to have the confidence to report it.

Inspector Fay Cole, Community Safety and Engagement, said: “The impact coronavirus is having is widespread and is affecting everyone in some way.

“Whilst many people are coming together to help and support each other there are still situations where people are being targeted simply for being who they are.

“Hate crimes and hate incidents cause harm to individuals, their family and friends and also deeply impact upon the community.

“They are corrosive and cause fear and division leaving victims and communities living in fear.”

She said verbal abuse and harassment because of who a person is comes under hate crime, including abusive or offensive messages posted online.

Inspector Cole added: “Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are reported and recorded by the police.

“You do not have to be the victim of a hate crime or hate incident to report it to the police.

“If you have witnessed an incident you can still make a report to the police.”

A number of Cleveland Police officers have suffered assaults linked to coronavirus including offenders spitting and coughing on them and saying they hope the officers become infected.

Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger, who is also chair of Cleveland’s multi-agency action group, added: “Even during an international pandemic there are still people in our communities who think it is acceptable to victimise a person simply for being who they are.

“Please report any incidents you experience or see and help bring perpetrators to justice.”

Mr Coppinger’s office has invested in two specialist hate crime investigators, who have achieved over 200 results for victims since 2018.

Hate crime can be reported to police on 999 or 101, at www.report-it.org.uk, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Related: Jail sentence upheld for Hartlepool yob who deliberately coughed in police officer’s face

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