Launch of a service for supporting victims of hate crime across East Sussex
Victim Support in conjunction with the Safer Communities Partnership of East Sussex County Council is launching a service to support individuals and communities suffering hate crime in the County.
This new service is aimed at raising the whole profile of minority communities who suffer violence, threats and intimidation, because, in some people’s eyes they are somehow different by virtue of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious belief or disability.
The service is aimed at raising the profile of hate crime and to show how menacing it is to individuals and communities, and to make people feel more confident to come forward and report incidents.
All the available evidence suggests that many, and probably the majority of hate crimes go unreported. Victims need to feel reassured that if they report what is happening they will be believed and feel supported.
Graham Hill from Victim Support in Sussex feels very strongly that for too long minority communities have had to endure crime and prejudice, and singled out because, in some people’s eyes they are somehow different.
Graham adds: “This service is about co-ordinating the work of many existing community groups who have the confidence of their local communities. Victim Support cannot deliver the service alone, and recognises how important the support of the local community, both the voluntary and statutory sector, will be.”
Victim Support can be contacted on 0845 389 9528. All calls will be treated in absolute confidence and the wishes of the person concerned will be entirely respected.
