Wyre Forest Hate Incident Partnership

What is a hate incident?

A hate incident is any incident that is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by the prejudice or hate of someone’s:

• race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins;
• religion;
• gender or gender identity;
• sexual orientation;
• disability; and/or
• age.

We want you to feel safe at home, at work and on the streets of the Wyre Forest district. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate incident, we need to know about it.

A hate incident could include:

• verbal abuse;
• harassment;
• graffiti or damage to property;
• threatening behaviour;
• offensive telephone calls or texts;
• hate mail or e-mail;
• physical assault; and/or
• bullying at school or in the workplace.

To report a hate incident just complete a reporting form and tell us as much information as you can. You can report anonymously if you wish, but we would like you to give your details so that we can help and support you.

You can make a report in person at many different locations such as:

• The Worcestershire Hub Customer Service Centres in Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn;
• Asha Wyre Forest;
• Citizens Advice Bureau;
• Community Action Wyre Forest;
• Connect Wyre Forest;
• Ethnic Access Link;
• Gender Trust;
• North Worcestershire Dial;
• North Worcestershire S.P.I.N.
• Polish Consulate;
• Polish Ex-Servicemen's Club;
• Speak Easy Now;
• The Area Offices of the Community Housing Group;
• Worcestershire Victim Support; and/or
• Wyre Forest Advocacy.

If you wish, you can complete a form to report hate crime (246K)

You can also report directly to the Police via their True Vision website

The information about the incident will be recorded on our database to help us monitor what is happening and to identify any areas of concern.

If you provide your details, you will be contacted by an officer within 6 working days of the report being received to discuss the incident further. No action will be taken without your agreement and you will be kept informed as to the progress of your case.

No personal information will be shared with any other agency without your consent. If you choose not to give your consent, then the report will only be used for monitoring purposes. If you give your consent, your details can be shared with organisations involved in WFHIP that can offer you advice and assistance.

The Wyre Forest Hate Incident Partnership was established in 2008 and is a group of local organisations that work together to provide help and support to victims of hate crime. This multi-agency approach means that all of the organisations involved in the partnership will work together to offer professional support and assistance to victims and witnesses, take effective action to stop any further incidents and, with consent, prosecute the perpetrator.

Members are as follows:

• Wyre Forest District Council.
• Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership.
• West Mercia Constabulary.
• The Community Housing Group.
• Worcestershire Victim Support.
• Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill Partnership.
• Oldington and Foley Park Pathfinder.
• Connect Wyre Forest

To find out more about WFHIP call the Community Safety Team on 01562 732928.