Jo Coles - York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

Jo Coles - North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

10 October, 2024

‘Help Not Hate’ in North Yorkshire and the City of York

North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council continue to throw their collective power behind the effort to tackle hate crime in our area. Together with Jo Coles, the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, this work is being highlighted during National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2024.

Taking place from Saturday 12 October to Saturday 19 October, we are reaching out to vulnerable victims and communities to reinforce our message that there is ‘Help Not Hate’ in North Yorkshire and the City of York.

As well as emphasising the importance of reporting hate crime so effective action can be taken against those responsible, we are also promoting a variety of organisations and groups which provide specialist support to victims and their families.

The week is also a prime opportunity for the community partners to come together to develop knowledge and learning about a range of hate crime issues covering race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender including misogyny.

A series of online and in-person sessions and events are taking place as part of the programme, with support from partners including:

  • MENCAP (learning disabilities charity)
  • Disability Action Yorkshire
  • Yorkshire MESMAC (sexual health services)
  • LGBTQ Forum
  • York St John University
  • York College
  • Up For Yorkshire (community services)
  • IDAS (domestic abuse)
  • Horton Housing
  • York Interfaith Group
  • North Yorkshire Youth

Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTP NE) is delivering a session about the role of Prevent in an educational setting to safeguard young people who may be vulnerable to extremist influences and radicalisation.

North Yorkshire Police’s Hate Crime and Police Race Action Plan teams are also giving inputs to officer and staff around the force to give an overview of their work and to discuss Black History Month which is ongoing throughout October.

Jo Coles, the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, said:

“Whether it takes place on a screen or in the street, hate crime and intolerance of difference, has no place in York and North Yorkshire.

“As I have over the last three months since I was appointed by David Skaith, the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire, I will continue to meet those who have experienced hate in their communities to ensure our police and fire services uphold the law and can effectively challenge and, where necessary, prosecute hate crime so that everyone who lives, visits, and works in York and North Yorkshire feels safe.”

 

Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Clarke, from North Yorkshire Police, said:

“It is truly abhorrent to target hate towards an individual or groups of people because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender.

“These sinister crimes must never be tolerated by fair and decent societies.

“We all have a part to play in tackling it through education, raising public awareness and robust enforcement.

“National Hate Crime Awareness Week is important in helping to bring everyone together to enhance the way we approach these very serious issues.

“We also use it to encourage victims to come forward to report hate crime and reassure them that they can have full confidence in seeking support in North Yorkshire and the City of York.”

 

Cllr Heather Phillips, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services which includes responsibilities for community safety, said:

“Our aim is to help make North Yorkshire a safer place for everyone to live and work, no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

“This year, alongside our partners, we will be holding a series of webinars and engagement events across the county where we will meet with residents and business owners to provide both advice and reassurance in the hope of getting the message across.

“It is an unfortunate truth that hate crime is not confined to big cities – it can happen anywhere – and so it is important that we all, as members of our communities, come together and show that it will not be tolerated in any form.”

Cllr Anna Baxter, Executive Member for Equality and Inclusion at City of York Council, said:

“There is no place in York for hate or discrimination. We welcome everyone living, working and visiting the city whatever their age, whether taking part in York Pride, arriving as a refugee, standing alongside disabled people, following one or no faith.

“Sadly, we know that hate occurs and that is unacceptable. We all have a part to play learning more about it, standing up to it and taking action against it. Please take part this important week and join our stand against this crime.”

 Hate crime reporting and seeking support

If you are a victim of hate crime or you have information that could help protect others, please make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website. The website also includes detailed guidance about hate crime support services.

You can also make a report by calling 101.

Always call 999 if an emergency response is required to deal with an immediate threat.

Get help with making your report

The charities, groups and organisations below can offer support, advice and ways to report the incident without having to talk directly to the police.

Supporting Victims
You can report hate crime to Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire and they’ll put you in touch with support organisations and explain your options.

Crimestoppers  
A national charity with a free online and helpline for reporting crime anonymously.

Tell MAMA
A national project supporting victims of anti-Muslim hate and monitoring anti-Muslim incidents.

Community Security Trust (CST)
A charity protecting British Jews from antisemitism and related threats.

Galop 
A national charity providing advice and support to members of the LGBT community.