Press Release – Stop Hate UK Helpline to launch in Essex

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Stop Hate UK is pleased to announce the recent launch of the 24-hour Stop Hate Line helpline service across Essex. The service has been funded by The Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

Commenting on the launch of service, Essex Police & Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, said:

“Essex is a safe place to live with resilient communities and strong relationships between communities, the voluntary sector and public services.

‘We need to make sure that we encourage the reporting of hate crime so that we can deal with it together. This is a confidential service designed to help encourage people to come forward and report hate crime but also access the support services they need.”

Rose Simkins, Chief Executive of Stop Hate UK, added:

“All forms of Hate Crime are significantly under-reported and some individuals and even whole communities are reluctant or unwilling to talk to the police or their council.

The Stop Hate Line, plus our other range of reporting channels, gives victims and witnesses of Hate Crime a safe and independent place to talk about their experiences and to explore their options for taking things further.”

Rose continued:

“We are able to support people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. Contact with our helpline, or other reporting channels, might be the first time an individual has talked to someone about the things they are experiencing. Other people may have tried to get help but find they are not satisfied with the response they received. No one should have to suffer Hate Crime in silence. Sadly the occurrence of Hate Crime has increased nationally but, working together with The Police and Crime Commissioner, this is a trend we can reverse.”

People can contact the Stop Hate Line anonymously if they prefer. Where someone has chosen to give their personal details to Stop Hate UK, their trained staff and volunteers will ask who they want their details to be shared with. The charity can also share information with the police and council, with consent, to ensure that those affected by Hate Crime, in any way, can access the support they need.

The Stop Hate Line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year on 0800 138 1625. The helpline is also available by text message on 07717 989 025 and by email to talk@stophateuk.org. Service users with Hearing Impairments can report via interactive BSL by clicking the link on our website www.stophateuk.org. Victims and witnesses can also chat on the web or fill in an online form by visiting www.stophateuk.org/talk.

Stop Hate UK is a national charity that provides independent and confidential support to people who are affected by all forms of Hate Crime. The Stop Hate Line is Stop Hate UK’s Hate Crime reporting and support helpline. Anyone in Essex can contact the Stop Hate Line to talk about how they have been directly or indirectly affected by Hate Crime.

The charity, whose Patron is Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, of Clarendon in the Commonwealth Realm of Jamaica, and ambassadors are Canon Mark Oakley of St Paul’s Cathedral and Great Britain athlete Adrian Derbyshire set up the Stop Hate Line in 2006 in direct response to Recommendation 16 of the Macpherson Report (the enquiry into the handling of the death of Stephen Lawrence) states that victims and witnesses should be able to report Hate Incidents 24 hours a day and to someone other than the police.

To download a copy of this press release click here: Press Release – Essex Stop Hate UK Helpline Service_Final

If you would like to talk to Stop Hate UK about this or any other aspect of our services please email info@stophateuk.org.