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 any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person based on their:

Race
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Disability

What are the effects of hate crime?

Victims can be left traumatised and terrified
Negatively affects 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. It will 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 are 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 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.

Brushstrokes Community Project - 253 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ, Telephone: 0121 565 2234

European's Welfare Association CIC - Shireland Technology Medical College, 350 High Street, West Bromwich, Sandwell, B70 8DJ / Head Office: 38 Carters Green, West Bromwich, Sandwell B70 9LG, Telephone: 0121 740 0824

Options For Life - Oak Green Way, Oldbury, West Midlands, B68 8LR, Telephone: 0121 544 6611

Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation – Kuumba Centre, Boulton Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6NW, Telephone: 0121 525 1629

Sandwell Deaf Community Association – New Deaf Centre, Summer Street, West Bromwich, B71 4JA, Telephone: 0121 553 0201

Sandwell Local Oldbury - Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Sandwell Local Rowley Regis - Blackheath Library, Rowley Regis, B65 0EA, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Sandwell Local Smethwick - Ground Floor, Smethwick Council House, High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NT, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Sandwell Local Tipton - High Street, Tipton, DY4 9JB, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Sandwell Local West Bromwich - Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Sandwell Young People's Services, Coneygre Arts Centre, Sedgley Road East, Tipton, DY4 8UH, Telephone: 0121 569 2899

Sikh Helpline UK - Guru Har Rai Gurdwara Sahib, 128 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 6JW, Telephone: 0845 644 0704

Summerhill Primary Academy - Upper Church Lane, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 9PF, Telephone: 0121 557 3282 (Only a Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre for Pupils and Parents at the School)

Victim Support – Victim Support Room 4G, YMCA Black Country Group, 38 Carters Green, West Bromwich, B70 9LG, Telephone: 0300 303 1977

All of our Sandwell Libraries are also Third Party Reporting Centres.

Advice and support can be offered remotely by some Third Party Reporting Centres with telephone and email options being available.