Coventry Community Safety Partnership

Hate Crime Campaign

A new campaign to tackle Hate Crime across Coventry has been launched, targeting young people in particular with a text reporting facility.

With a host of well-known faces and supporters from across the city featured on a range of posters, postcards and publicity materials, it's hoped the campaign will act as both a deterrent to incidents of Hate Crime and an encouragement to those who find themselves a victim to report at one of the now established Hate Crime reporting centres across the city or via the new text reporting line.

Hate Crime can include:
Verbal abuse and harassment
Threat and intimidation
Physical assault and violence including sexual violence
Psychological and emotional violence and property damage
Graffiti and offensive mail

The campaign, entitled "Coventry is saying no to Hate Crime- do not suffer in silence" was funded by the Department for Education - Improving Support for Young Victims of Crime fund. It sits alongside the overall anti-violence campaign running across Coventry- Not in My City.

Cllr Phil Townshend, Cabinet member for Corporate and Neighbourhood Services, said: "It's really important to produce materials aimed at young people. The text reporting facility is something that young people have asked for.  It is the way young people communicate.

"Young people are often the victims of hate crime and don't always feel confident in reporting or don't know they can report. Hopefully this campaign will highlight the fact they don't have to put up with being a victim, they can report and will be supported."

All those who were involved in the poster campaign, including Coventry based DJ Paul Morrell, the Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Team, Coventry Rugby Club, The Coventry Crusaders basketball team, Hillz FM and The Kombat Breakers have given their time freely and were happy to provide quotes and comments to support the campaign on the publicity materials.

The materials will be circulated widely throughout the city. They will target venues  frequented by young people in the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

All reports of Hate Crime are taken seriously and treated in confidence.

To report Hate Crime you can now text: 07903 674 589.