Warning over lockdown hate crime in Hartlepool

Police chiefs in the region have urged anyone aware of hate crimes to come forward, with more than 20 suspects already interviewed since the start of lockdown.
By Nic Marko
Published 20th May 2020, 16:11 BST
Updated 22nd May 2020, 19:02 BST

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Cleveland Police car stock image.Cleveland Police car stock image.
Cleveland Police car stock image.

The Hate Crime Team at Cleveland Police have issued an appeal encouraging victims to continue reporting hate crimes and incidents.

During lockdown, hate crime investigators have dealt with many investigations and taken a number of statements from victims and witnesses.

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They have also interviewed over 20 suspects for various hate crime offences, according to Hartlepool Neighbourhood Police Team.

Police chiefs stressed hate crime investigators are wearing the appropriate PPE and implementing safety measures where necessary when interacting with members of the public.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: “Hate crimes and hate incidents cause harm to individuals, their family and friends and also deeply impact our communities.

“They cause fear and division and cause communities to live in fear and this will not be tolerated in Cleveland.

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“We want to reassure the public that the Hate Crime Investigators based within the Community Safety Team are still continuing to support victims and deal with suspects during this current pandemic.”

It comes after in October last year Hartlepool hosted an event to help tackle hate crime in the region.

Local LGBT support service Hart Gables organised the event at Cleveland Fire Brigade’s headquarters to coincide with National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The event was well supported by organisations including Hartlepool Borough Council, probation service, disability groups and local mosques.

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The most recently published Safer Hartlepool Partnership performance report stated in 2018/19 there had been 144 hate crime incidents, while from April to December 2019 there had been 98 reported incidents.

Hate crime includes targeting people simply for reasons such as their sexuality, race, religion or disability

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

Police reminded residents they can report any hate crime incidents on its non-emergency number 101 and to always call 999 in an emergency.

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People can also report online at the Cleveland Police website www.cleveland.police.uk, at www.report-it.org.uk, or they can report anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via https://crimestoppers-uk.org.

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