Hate Free Highland hailed a success

A multi-agency reporting system called Hate Free Highland, set-up to encourage the reporting of hate crime incidents across Highland, has been hailed a success.

A total of 45 hate incidents were reported overall during the six month period since the launch.

Hate Free Highland is a multi-agency campaign designed to encourage and support the reporting of hate incidents across Highland. The campaign includes an online reporting system via a dedicated website.

The need for an online reporting mechanism was identified through engagement with under represented communities across the region.

The multi-agency approach ensures trends or patterns are less likely to be lost in the system as the partners are adopting a strong, joined up approach.

Racism and disability discrimination represent the highest percentages in terms of the types of hate crime being reported through the website – 37% (racism) and 20% (disability).

The system has shown that reporting of disability hate crime has increased since the launch, when compared to the figures for such incidents in Police annual crime figures.

The Hate Free Highland initiative offers a third party reporting system for people who may feel uncomfortable about reporting incidents directly to Police.

This approach should be welcomed, especially in light of the recent inquest into the deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter in Leicestershire, whose lives were destroyed by disability hate crime and ultimately led to Ms Pilkington taking her own and her daughter’s lives.

It must also be noted that the figures reflect the geographical reach of the marketing campaign thus far, with Inverness, Ross, Cromarty and East Ross being the focus to date. Further marketing of the campaign will continue in other areas over the coming weeks and months.

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Resources Committee, said: "Hate Free Highland is a welcome initiative that aims to support public agencies in the Highlands to respond to hate incidents.  Everyone has the right to live a life free from prejudice and discrimination and The Highland Council is committed to making this a reality for everyone in our community.”

NHS Highland’s Moira Paton, said: “We are delighted that a growing number of voluntary organisations and community groups are becoming involved.

“By working together we can make clear that there is no place for hate in our communities, and can provide support to individuals who experience such incidents.”

Northern Constabulary’s Strategic Diversity Officer, Lisa Buchanan, said: “The Hate Free Highland website is part of our long term commitment to tackling hate crimes in the Highlands.

“Hate crime is not something new but the way we tackle it must be responsive and appropriate to a range of communities in the 21st century.

“The site does not take away from traditional methods of reporting, such as visiting a Police station or calling, but we recognise that due to the pervasive, everyday, damaging impact hate incidents have on individuals we need to offer greater flexibility in terms of reporting options.”

She added: “Every incident reported and dealt with at an early stage could potentially prevent a serious crime or incident further down the line.”

Online and third party hate crime reporting is supported by nearly all police forces in the UK. The benefits of third party reporting systems are that other services, voluntary, private and public can pick up on and support us to significantly reduce hate incidents in our community.

Breakdown of figures by geographical area:

Disability (4), Gender (2), Racism (7), Religion (1), Sexual Orientation (homophobia) (2), Social origin (1) – represents 38% of total incidents reported.

Age (1), Racism (2), Religion (2), Religion (1) – represents 9% of total incidents reported.

Age (1), Disability (1), Racism (2) – represents 9% of total incidents reported.

Racism (1) – represents 2% of total incidents reported.

Disability (1) – represents 2% of total incidents reported.

Age (1), Racism (2) – represents 7% of total incidents reported.

Disability (2), Gender (1), Racism (2), Sexual orientation (homophobia) (1), Social Origin (2) – represents 18% of total incidents reported.

Disability (1), Racism (3), Religion (1) – represents 11% of total incidents reported.