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

A hate crime is a criminal offence which means it is against the law and can include:

• Verbal abuse
• Threats
• A physical attack
• Harassment
• Damage to property
• Online abuse, for example, on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook

Hate crime in any form is wrong and can cause a lot of pain for victims, their loved ones and to entire communities. That is why it is important that if any hate crime happens to you or someone you know, you should report it.

• Violence – Hitting, Beating, Assault, Murder
• Damage to Property – Offensive Graffiti, Damage to Places of Worship, Smashing Windows, Cars, Arson
• Threats – Offensive Letters, Abusive Messages, Intimidation
• Verbal Abuse – Insults and Name Calling
• Harassment – Name Calling, Intimidation, Malice, Rubbish and Excrement in Gardens or Through Letter Boxes
• Malicious Communications – Obscene Calls/Texts, Distributing Offensive Leaflets and Posters, Hate mail
• Online – Internet and Social Media to Spread Hatred

When challenged about something they have said, you might hear someone say they have a right to free speech and to share their opinion without being punished. Although they may be correct in that they have this freedom to have their own opinion and express this, they also must be responsible with this. If this freedom is not used responsibly, it can be restricted such as when it turns into hate speech and someone is subjected to hostility based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Hate crime can cause harm and have long-lasting effects on victims. This includes:

• Feeling traumatised, terrified and vulnerable
• Feeling isolated and lonely
• Being overcome by panic or anxiety
• Feeling afraid to go out
• A break-down in family relationships
• Negatively affecting the health and wellbeing of victims

If a hate crime takes place and is not reported, your school or the police won’t know about what has happened and won’t be able to take action to stop it and protect the victim. By reporting, you can help stop the person who committed the hate crime from doing this again.

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.

Witnessing a hate crime can be distressing and it may be helpful for you to speak about what you have come across and talk through your feelings. This can be with someone you trust such as a family member, friend, teacher, neighbour or doctor.

It is important to report hate crime that you come across whether that be in school, outside of school or online. There are many ways you can do this and can remain anonymous if you do not wish to share your name when reporting.

If the incident took place at school, in the first instance you should speak to a teacher at your school and make them aware of what has happened.

You can report to the police and should always do this in emergencies by calling 999. In a non-emergency, you can report a hate crime to the police by calling 101 or report online through the West Midlands Police website.

There is a dedicated hate crime reporting website called True Vision  where you can submit a hate crime report to the police who will pick this up and investigate.

There is also an option where you can report hate crime to local places within the community who are known as Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre such as Sandwell Young People’s Services if you do not want to directly contact the police. The Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre can take your report and then forward this to the police for you.

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.

West Bromwich

• Accord Housing Association – 178 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6QG, Telephone: 0300 111 7000
• European’s Welfare Association CIC – Health Futures UTC, 350 High Street, West Bromwich, Sandwell, B70 8DJ, Telephone: 0121 740 0824
• Nash Dom CIC – Court House, 335-337 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8LU, Telephone: 0192 261 6444
• Proud Baggies – info@proudbaggies.com
• Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation – Kuumba Centre, Boulton Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6NW, Telephone: 0121 525 1629
• Sandwell College – 1 Spon Lane, West Bromwich, B70 6AW, Telephone: 0121 667 5000
• Sandwell Deaf Community Association – New Deaf Centre, Summer Street, West Bromwich, B71 4JA, Telephone: 0121 553 0201
• Sandwell Local West Bromwich – Court House, 335-337 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8LU, Telephone: 0121 368 1166
• Sandwell Visually Impaired – West Bromwich Town Hall, Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8DY, Telephone: 0121 525 4810
• Sikh Helpline UK – Guru Har Rai Gurdwara Sahib, 128 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 6JW, Telephone: 0845 644 0704
• Special Olympics Sandwell, C/O SCVO First Floor Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ER, Telephone: 07957 391 514
• Victim Support – Victim Support Room 4G, YMCA Black Country Group, 38 Carters Green, West Bromwich, B70 9LG, Telephone: 0300 303 1977
• Yemeni Community Association in Sandwell – Greets Green Access Centre, Tildasley Street, West Bromwich, B70 9SJ, Telephone: 0121 525 3909

Smethwick

• Brushstrokes Community Project – 253 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ, Telephone: 0121 565 2234
• Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick – 130 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3AP, Telephone: 0121 558 2527
• Ideal For All – 100 Oldbury Road, Smethwick, B66 1JE, Telephone: 0121 558 5555
• Oldbury Jamia Masjid – Oldbury Road, Smethwick, B66 1NJ, Telephone: 0121 555 6321
• Sandwell Local Smethwick – Ground Floor, Smethwick Council House, High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NT, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Oldbury

• Options For Life – Oak Green Way, Oldbury, West Midlands, B68 8LR, Telephone: 0121 544 6611
• Rights Equality Sandwell – 28 Birmingham Street, Oldbury, B69 4DS, Telephone: 0121 541 1775
• Sandwell Irish Community Association – Langley Lodge Community Centre, Langley High Street, Langley, West Midlands, B69 4SL, Telephone: 0121 533 9734

Tipton

• Sandwell Local Tipton – High Street, Tipton, DY4 9JB, Telephone: 0121 368 1166
• Sandwell Young Peoples Services, Coneygre Arts Centre, Sedgley Road East, Tipton, DY4 8UH, Telephone: 0121 569 2899
• 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)

Rowley Regis

• Sandwell Local Rowley Regis – Payne Street, Blackheath, B65 0DH, Telephone: 0121 368 1166
• Accord Housing Association – 178 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6QG, Telephone: 0300 111 7000
• Blackheath Library – 145 High Street, Blackheath, Rowley Regis, B65 0EA
• Cradley Heath Library – Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5JU
• Oakham Library – Poplar Rise, Tividale, Oldbury, B69 1RD
• Sandwell Local Rowley Regis – Payne Street, Blackheath, B65 0DH, Telephone: 0121 368 1166

Wednesbury

• Sandwell Local Wednesbury –  Wednesbury Town Hall, Lower High St, Wednesbury, WS10 7DF, Telephone: 0121 368 1166
• Sant Nirankari Centre – Potters Lane, Wednesbury, WS10 OAS, Telephone: 0121 505 4005

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

If you have been affected by a hate crime or know someone who has, the below organisations can help you in Sandwell:

Remedi

Remedi’s Hate Crime Victim Service provides emotional and practical support in addition to other support to anyone has been the victim of a hate crime in Sandwell. For more information, take a look at Remedi’s website or contact a member of the team:

Website: http://www.remediuk.org/

Email: Hatecrimevictimservice@remediuk.org

Sandwell Healthy Minds

Hate crime can negatively impact on the mental health of victims and those who have witnessed this. Sandwell Healthy Minds offer psychological therapy services for people experiencing mental health problems such as low mood, depression, anxiety and stress. If you are 16 or over and registered with a GP in Sandwell, find out how Sandwell Healthy Minds can help you:

Website: https://www.sandwellhealthyminds.nhs.uk/

Email: bcpft.sandwellhealthyminds@nhs.net

Sandwell Young People’s Services

Sandwell Young People’s Services are a Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre in Sandwell just for young people which means that they can report a hate crime that you may have experienced to the police for you if you do not want to directly contact the police yourself. They can also help you access any support you may need following a hate crime. To find out how you can contact a member of the team click here.