1. Challenge North Staffs

2. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime What is CNS? We work together to help people who have had problems with hate crime & mate crime. We want to help everyone to live safely in the community We do not want people to live in fear of hate, or abuse. We are a Hate Crime Network.

3. What is a hate crime? A crime that is committed because the criminal does not like something that is different about the victim.

4. Religion Disability Race/Ethnicity Gender Identity Sexual Orientation What do we mean by different?

5. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime Hate crime can include: Hitting you or kicking you, or threatening to do this. Abusive Phone Calls or Letters. Online bullying, on Facebook for instance. Someone making fun of you in a hurtful way e.g. about the way you look or speak. Someone stealing or intentionally breaking something that belongs to you. Someone setting fire to your house or your belongings

6. Hate Crime in numbers In 2014/15 there were 52,528 hate crimes reported in England and Wales. 2,508 (5%) of these were disability hate crimes. The Crime survey estimated that the number of hate crimes committed in 2014/15 were closer to 222,000 (31.5% of these were estimated to be disability hate crimes). This would mean that only 24% of all hate crimes were reported. When it comes to disability hate crime this number could be as low as 3.6%.

7. Hate Crime in North Staffordshire Perceived motivation for incidents/crimes reported to CNS 2015-16 Q1 to Q3

8. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime What is Mate Crime? Mate crime happens when someone pretends to be your friend and then uses you / takes advantage of you instead of being a good friend.

9. It may be mate crime if someone you know keeps: using your home as their own – e.g. inviting other people round, drinking, taking drugs and playing loud music. ordering you to do things that you don’t want to do. coming round when you get your money, wages or benefits & getting you to buy them things. ‘borrowing’ money or belongings (and not giving it back). ‘borrowing your mobile and using up all the credit. charging you for petrol every time they take you out. What is Mate Crime?

10. Who might commit mate crime? Mate crime is done by someone you know. You might have met them recently or you might have known them for a long time. A ‘mate’ may be a friend, family member, supporter, paid staff or another person with a disability.

11. Case Study Client: Alice has a mild/moderate learning disability and lives independently. Incidents: Alice reported that she was being called horrible names, teased and threatened by a group of young people in the town centre. On a few occasions they had even followed her, making fun of her. This made Alice feel very scared. This had been going on for some months. Alice was afraid to go out and said she wanted to move house. She said she felt very low and worried. Outcome: We met with Alice, and took a full statement including the effect on her of the harassment. With Alice’s permission we contacted her Social Worker and Housing Officer and arranged to meet with them and Alice. A local PCSO also attended. Alice told everyone what had been going on and how she felt. Alice was able to give a description of some of the young people. The PCSO said that he would speak to the young people involved as he had a good idea of who they were. He said he would ‘look out for’ Alice round the shops. Other helpful advice was given, e.g. about staying safe when out. The Housing Officer said that she would look into the possibility of Alice moving, but asked for some time to see if things settled down. Alice later reported another incident where she had seen the gang walking past and felt very frightened. A further incident occurred when she was called names. She explained that she had lost her confidence and just wanted to move away. We relayed this information to her Social Worker and to the Housing Officer. We talked to Alice about her getting some counselling to give her some extra support and this was arranged. With the help of her social worker and the Council she moved to a house in another area.

12. Case Study In the morning of June 6 th 2015, Irving’s body was found abandoned on grass next to a pathway, about 10 miles from his home. Two men appeared in court the following Tuesday charged with his murder and police are treating it as a possible disability hate crime. Lee Irving was 24 and had a learning disability. He was especially friendly, and locals in Newcastle upon Tyne where Lee lived, said “He always put his hand out to shake it” when he saw them. This story is one example of why it’s so important to nip hate incidents the bud!

13. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime So why all the fuss? Little things can turn into big problems if they are not stopped. It can make you feel sad, afraid, depressed or bad about yourself – You don’t deserve to feel that way

14. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime Why does hate/mate crime matter? Why does it matter? It is serious and affects the wider community In some cases people have died The victims are vulnerable It is a priority! If a crime is proven in court to be a hate crime, the perpetrator can be given a higher sentence It makes life miserable

15. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime Why don’t people report hate crime/ mate crime? Might think it’s nothing/not worth reporting Fear of not being believed/taken seriously Lack of trust in the Police Don’t know where or how to report Don’t know what a hate crime is Can you think of more reasons? Trust your instincts: If you think something is wrong then act on it!

16. What can you do? It is important to tell someone you trust if these things are happening to you. In 2005 hate crime against disabled people became a criminal offence. Report It! Reporting can make a difference to your life, your friends and your community.

17. Who can you tell if hate crime happens to you? The Police 999, 101 or www.report-it.org.uk Adult Safeguarding Teams Stoke-on-Trent: 0800 561 0015 Staffordshire: 0345 604 2719 text: 07814 191 111 Stop Hate UK 0800 138 1625 24 hour helpline – free from most landlines talk@stophateuk.org Challenge North Staffs or CACH : :

18. North Staffordshire Reporting Hate Crime: Challenge North Staffs Text HATE + your message to 07537414477 or phone: 0330 1111 999 cns@snscab.org.uk Use the paper reporting forms www.challengenorthstaffs.org

19. South & East Staffordshire (e.g. Stafford, Chase District, Burton on Trent, Tamworth, Lichfield & South Derbyshire) Phone/Text: 0797 149 7988 admin@cachpartnership.org.uk Use the paper report forms www.cachpartnership.org.uk Twitter @CACHPartnership

20. What happens when you make a report to Challenge North Staffs, or CACH? Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime Advice Communication Help

21. What can be done to stop hate crime/mate crime? Agencies work together to make people safe. The Police may arrest the abuser & either warn them or charge them with a crime. A solicitor can apply to a court for an injunction to make the abuser(s) stay away. People can keep an eye on the victim to ensure they are safe. The The victim can be supported to make real friends.

22. Remember! Not all of your friends want to hurt you or take advantage of you. Most of your friends are good friends. All of them might be. You have rights. You have the right to be believed. You have the right to be taken seriously when you report incidents. You have the right to be safe and free from fear. Don’t stand for it, report it! Be aware – not scared. Get out there and enjoy life (information from www.arcsafety.net)

23. Useful resources http://www.report- it.org.uk/files/lsdhc_a_guide_for_disabl ed_people_final_easyread_20022012. pdf https://www.dojni.gov.uk/sites/def ault/files/publications/doj/autism- guide-may-2015.pdf

24. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime For further information please contact: Lorna Park – CNS Project Officer or Sara Pedersen – CNS Youth Worker 01782 408 753 lorna.park@snscab.org.uk sara.pedersen@snscab.org.uk

25. Don’t Live in fear – report hate crime Thank you for listening Any questions?

26. Clip: ‘The Harms of Hate’ Video: The Harms of Hate: Leicester University – 15 mins Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCFJd2U2BNQ Clip: Westbourne View (BBC News report) - 5 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxr0aM5fdhE