Say ‘no’ to hate – new campaign urges

 Harborough District Council has teamed up with Leicestershire County Council, and other councils, as well as police to help spread the message.

The Stop and Tell campaign runs from 17th March to 21st March 2014.

A range of awareness-raising events including displays at libraries and local councils, reporting centres, staff training days, road shows and school assemblies will take place during 2014.   

A ‘hate incident’ can be physical, verbal or written abuse and anyone can be a victim if they feel they have been targeted because of their age, disability, gender identify, race, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

If you have been a victim, or if you have witnessed or become aware of a hate incident, please report it.

It is the perception that counts; if you think it is hate incident it is.

Some examples of hate incidents:   

• A person receives threatening letter which they feel have been motivated by their disability
• Someone overhears language they think is racist
• A person, leaving a gay bar, may be verbally abused and perceive it was motivated by homophobia whether or not that person is gay   

Councillor Bill Liqourish, the council’s portfolio holder for community safety said: “We believe that everyone who lives works in or visits the district has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to live without fear of hatred.”  

You can report a hate incident on-line at www.harborough.gov.uk/reporthate or at local reporting centres. These include the district council offices in Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough, VASL, local libraries or by calling the Hate Incident Monitoring Project on 0116 305 8263.