Hate crime
The Safer Sandwell Partnership Police and Crime Board which consists of Sandwell Council, West Midlands Police and other organisations in the community has made tackling and eradiating hate crime a key priority.
What is hate crime?
A hate crime is hostility against a person or a group of people where they have been targeted because of their:
- Race
- Faith
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender
- Disability
- Any other characteristic that is different to that of the perpetrator's or that which the perpetrator thinks is different
What are the impacts of hate crime?
- Victims can be left traumatised and terrified
- Negatively impacts on the health and wellbeing of victims and their family and friends
- Can be violent
- Can impact on an entire community
- Can lead to tensions and conflict
What can I do about hate crime?
It is important to report a hate crime that you have been the victim of or witnessed. By reporting, you are taking action to stamp out hate crime in Sandwell.
Your report will be taken seriously and can help stop the perpetrator from doing this again and provide the police with information that will help them to protect everyone in Sandwell from hate crime. When a criminal offence is classed as a hate crime, courts in England and Wales have the power to give tougher sentences to the perpetrator. Also, by reporting, victims can get access to specialised support and advice that will help them to feel safe once more.
If you have witnessed a hate crime, it can also be helpful to a victim to speak to them in a friendly manner and make them feel reassured if it is safe to do so. This can show the victim they are not alone and might make them feel safer.
How do I report a hate crime?
There are many ways for victims and witnesses to report a hate crime:
Telephone:
Police
In an emergency whereby you believe you or someone else in in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call the police on 999
In a non-emergency, you can report a hate crime by calling the police on 101
Crimestoppers
You can pass on information about hate crime offenders by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. This is anonymous and you will not be asked for your personal details.
Online:
You can report non-emergency incidents through the West Midlands Police website.
Hate crime can be reported anonymously by visiting the Crimestoppers website.
You can also report hate crime on the True Vision website anonymously.
Another way to report is by by downloading the West Midlands Police hate crime reporting app: App Store / Google Play
If you feel you or your family are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
Third Party Reporting Centres:
Third Party Reporting Centres are places within the community where you can report a hate crime confidentially whether you a victim or witness if you do not want to report directly to the police. They are trained on dealing with reports of hate crime and can also help you get the support that you may need after experiencing or witnessing a hate crime. Below is a list of Third Party Reporting Centres in Sandwell.
Accord Housing Association – 178 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6QG
Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick – 130 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3AP
Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation – Kuumba Centre, Boulton Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6NW
Sandwell College – 1 Spon Lane, West Bromwich, B70 6AW
Sandwell Deaf Community Association – New Deaf Centre, Summer Street, West Bromwich, B71 4JA
Sandwell Local Oldbury - Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE
Sandwell Local Rowley Regis - Payne Street, Blackheath, B65 0DH
Sandwell Local Smethwick - Ground Floor, Smethwick Council House, High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NT
Sandwell Local Tipton - High Street, Tipton, DY4 9JB
Sandwell Local Wednesbury - Wednesbury Town Hall, Lower High St, Wednesbury, WS10 7DF
Sandwell Local West Bromwich - Court House, 335-337 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8LU
Sandwell Visually Impaired – West Bromwich Town Hall, Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8DY
Victim Support – Victim Support Room 4G, YMCA Black Country Group, 38 Carters Green, West Bromwich, B70 9LG
All Sandwell Libraries are also Third Party Reporting Centres where you can report a hate crime.