Issue - meetings

Copy attached

It was moved by Councillor Corcoran, seconded by Councillor Spring and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Hate Crime Ambassadors

This Council notes that

A hate crime is any behaviour that someone thinks was caused by hostility, prejudice or hatred of their:

• Disability (including physical impairments, mental health problems, learning disabilities, hearing and visual impairments
• Gender Identity (people who are transgender, transsexual or transvestite)
• Race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage
• Religion, faith or belief (including people without a religious belief)
• Sexual orientation (people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual etc.)

It can include:

• name calling or verbal abuse
• graffiti or abusive writing
• damage to property
• threats or intimidation
• bullying or harassment
• physical attacks or violence, including sexual violence, arson and murder.

Anyone can be a victim of hate crime if they are targeted because of who they are, their friends or family or even who the perpetrator thinks they are.

If a court finds that any offence was aggravated by, or committed because of prejudice or hostility on any of the above grounds, then a more severe sentence can be imposed on the perpetrator.

Figures for hate crime, and non-crime hate incidents in Sefton (supplied by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) are as follows:

2020 – 589;

2021 – 654;

2022 – 756

This shows a steady increase.

This Council believes that:

Hate incidents and hate crimes are still underreported

Although we cannot be sure whether the increase means more incidents, or an increase in reporting, we believe that hate crime has no place in our society.

This Council resolves to:

Condemn racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and hate crimes of any description;

Reassure our residents, workers and visitors that Sefton is a welcoming borough which strives to be diverse and tolerant;

Undertake Hate Crime Ambassador training to champion awareness, increase public confidence and support reporting in our communities, including how to report a hate crime, and third party reporting.

Source for definition

https://www.merseysidepcc.info/get-involved/resources-campaigns/hate-crime/