Hate Crime Awareness Week
12th – 19th October 2024
As part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2024, Barnet will host a number of events across the borough under the message "Hate has no place in Barnet," in close partnership with Barnet Mencap, the Metropolitan Police, and Barnet Council.
Hate crime affects the entire community. No one deserves to be targeted with abuse because of their disability, transgender identity, sexual orientation, faith, race, religion, age, or national origin. The Barnet Hate Crime Awareness Project aims to show that we will not allow hate crime to escalate in Barnet.
Hate crimes are a growing problem across Great Britain. The focus on addressing hate crime in the Barnet borough follows new data from the Metropolitan Police showing a 47.3% rise in reported hate crimes in the year up to July. There were 1,153 incidents, up from 818 in the previous year.
Research has shown that hate crime can escalate and spread if left unchecked within a community. Hate crime can target victims based on disability, transgender identity, sexual orientation, faith, race, religion, ethnicity, age, or national origin. These crimes can include verbal abuse, criminal damage, bullying, physical assault, malicious complaints, harassment, offensive graffiti, and online abuse via social media platforms.
Barnet’s Hate Crime Awareness Project works in partnership with Barnet Council’s Community Safety Strategy, which prioritises hate crime prevention. This initiative also focuses on access to justice for those affected by hate crime, particularly disabled people and vulnerable adults. It aims to increase engagement with community-based groups, support victims, boost confidence in reporting hate crimes, and deliver targeted workshops on identifying and reporting hate crime for Barnet residents and professionals.
Barnet operates a network of third-party Hate Crime Reporting Centres where victims and witnesses, especially vulnerable individuals, can receive support to report offences to the police. They can also be referred to or signposted towards local community organisations for ongoing support. These centres are selected to represent a diverse cross-section of the community and are located in accessible locations across the borough, with online communication options available.
This year’s Hate Crime Awareness Week events include the Community Cohesion Conversation, Hate Crime Awareness and Information Stalls, and focused workshops for residents and professionals.
Barnet operates a network of third-party Hate Crime Reporting Centres where victims and witnesses of hate crime, in particular our more vulnerable members, can access support to report offences to the Police and be referred or signposted to local community organisations for ongoing support. Our Hate Crime Reporting Centres are selected to represent a diverse cross-section of the community and are in accessible locations across the borough and via online communications.
This year’s Hate Crime Awareness Week events include community Hate Crime Awareness and Information Stands across the borough, and Hate Crime Awareness Information Fair and focused workshops for professionals.
Barnet Hate Crime Awareness Week 2024 also focuses on making Barnet a SAFE COMMUNITY for all. We continue to promote the Barnet Safe Places Scheme which was launched post-pandemic in 2021. This is a network of safe places across the borough where people can get help if they feel unsafe, anxious or threatened when out in the community.
We will also be raising awareness of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard which disabled people and people with medical or health conditions can wear to indicate that they might need some support, space or additional time when accessing services and facilities. Join us to learn more about becoming a member of the Barnet Safe Places Scheme.
Come along to one of our focused events:
Tuesday 15th October: Hate Crime Awareness and Reporting Stall at Edgware Bus Station, HA8 7AW - 2pm - 4pm
Wednesday 16th October: Hate Crime Awareness and Reporting Stall on Finchley High Street, NW11 7RN- 6pm - 8pm
Saturday 19th October: Hate Crime Awareness and Reporting Stall - Outside Ballard's Lane Tesco, 2pm - 4pm (37-49 Ballards Lane Finchley N3 1XP)