New hate crime service launched in Sussex as incidents rise in lockdown
The Police and Crime Commissioner is concerned the figures "may just be the tip of the iceberg".
A new hate crime support service has launched in Sussex after a rise in reports during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Sussex Hate Incident Support Service has offered support to 1,557 victims of hate crime in its first six months of operation.
That is 50 per cent more than the service was expecting.
There were 1,926 incidents of hate crime reported to Sussex Police between March and September, an increase of 12 per cent compared to the previous six months.
More than half (60 per cent) of these reports were race related, with spikes during and after the Black Lives Matter protests.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne allocated £123,000 of her victim’s budget to set up the first county-wide hate crime support service, combining services in West and East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, in a bid to combat incidents.
Run by Victim Support, it offers frontline support to complex, high risk and vulnerable victims of hate crime, providing immediate emotional support, advice and coordination with partner agencies including Sussex Police.
It comes as this week (10 to 17 October) marks Hate Crime Awareness Week, with the message ‘hate crime will not be tolerated in Sussex’.
Service team leader Carole Peapell said it has been "particularly sad that in these unprecedented times, when so many in our community are pulling together to help each other, we have seen an increase in hate incidents driven by distrust, hostility and prejudice".
During the months of lockdown, the service received reports of verbal abuse, online bullying, criminal damage, harassment and threatening behaviour.
They have even had key workers who have been spat at and abused, with 16 per cent of the cases referred to them involving some form of physical violence.
Carole is encouraging victims of hate crime to come forward and report their experiences to Sussex Police:
"Hate crime can have a devastating impact on a victim’s well-being – we see people who cannot sleep, are frightened to go out, who feel unsafe in their own community or even in their own homes.
"We are here for anyone targeted solely because of who they are, whether this be because of their race, disability, gender identity or beliefs.
"We work closely with Sussex Police, and we know they take hate crime seriously.
"The more evidence they have the greater the chance they have of taking action.
"We know it is not always possible to take a case to court, but where it is, Sussex secures convictions in more than nine out of ten cases."
Meanwhile Superintendent Rachel Swinney, Sussex Police’s hate crime lead, said it "will not be tolerated in Sussex":
"It is extremely damaging, creating fear and humiliation.
"It’s not okay to be targeted because of who you are, or because of who people think you are.
"Our officers and staff are trained to deal sensitively and professionally with reports of hate crime.
"They understand that it can sometimes be difficult to explain what has happened, and they are there to help you.
"We take hate crime seriously, and we want to hear about incidents so we can respond effectively."
Following the Black Lives Matter protests, the service saw an 83 per cent increase in referrals in June and July.
One of their clients, X, is a refugee with limited English and vulnerable because of a medical condition.
Since arriving in the UK he has reportedly experienced ongoing harassment, intimidation, threats and physical violence.
X’s caseworker arranged for an interpreter, provided practical safety advice and equipment, helped him build support networks and is offering him support through the ongoing police investigation.
Sussex Police stepped up patrols in the area where the crimes had occurred, and the targeted abuse is now said to have stopped.
X said:
"I can’t tell you how terrible is to be targeted because of who you are.
"I don’t know what I would have done without Victim Support.
"They were by my side throughout - they listened to me, they believed me, they helped me get my confidence back."
Meanwhile Sussex PCC Katy Bourne said "nobody should be singled out, threatened or abused simply because of who they are":
"Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have seen people across all communities come together and show an immense amount of kindness towards each other.
"However it saddens me that, during this time, we have also seen a significant rise in crimes driven by hatred and I’m concerned that these figures may just be the tip of the iceberg.
"I want to offer reassurance that there is a collective determination within Sussex Police and our wonderful partner agencies to tackle hate crime.
"If you come forward to report, you will be believed and taken seriously and I will continue to ensure that you receive the help and support you need."
Hate crime can be reported to Sussex Police online, by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.
Anybody who has been a victim of hate crime can find details of support available online at Safe Space Sussex.