How to report a hate crime:
- Call 999 if it’s an emergency or if there is immediate danger
- Call 101 if there is no immediate danger
- Visit a police station or report it online here
- Visit a third-party reporting centre, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau
Immediate support if you have experienced hate crime
If you have been a victim of hate crimes and far-right violence, you can access support from the organisation Victim Support, who has issued a statement and offering services to those impacted via their free support line: 08 08 16 89 111, or by starting a live chat any time, or accessing My Support Space – a free online resource containing interactive guides and videos to help you after crime. They also have specific guidance on reporting hate crime and support available.
How to stay safe amidst far-right violence
The organisation HOPE not Hate has good advice for:
- Organisations supporting people seeking asylum in Home Office hotels.
- Charities and community groups on centre and service-based safety.
- Charities and community groups on community-based work, including housing managed in the community.
- People fearful of or at risk of being targeted by far-right violence.
You can email Hope not Hate at info@hopenothate.org.uk and can request a guide.
- Information about the key far-right organisations and individuals with an anti-migrant focus and their tactics.
- You can request a guide to online safety and security for temporary asylum accommodation here.
Protective Security Scheme for Mosques & Places of Worship
- The government has reopened applications for the Protective Security Scheme for Mosques to provide funding to protect places of worship against hate crime.
- The Muslim Council of Britain produced an FAQ about the scheme and created resources – guidance for addressing far-right extremism and Islamophobia at Friday prayers.
- Muslim Council of Britain has a range of resources on mosque safety.
- Gov.UK funding for protective Security Schemes for places of worship.
Protective Measures for the Voluntary and Community (VCS) Sector
The safety and security of your staff, volunteers and the people you support is paramount, and the VCS Emergencies Partnership have pulled together a few basic suggestions that partners may want to consider:
- Prioritise your people.
- Communicate with them, raise their awareness and make sure you give them up-to-date guidance on how to keep themselves and others safe.
- Consider travel times and routes.
- Be careful about your brand and how that brand identity may put your people at risk.
- Review your policies, contact details and emergency plans.
- Protect your properties.
- Review your business continuity plans.
- Consider guidance on what makes your buildings safer and recognise any quick fixes, but many may take longer to implement.
- Don’t forget the vacant buildings – these can be easy targets.
- The Health and Safety Executive have guidance on violence and aggression in the workplace.
Support for Children & Young People
UK Trauma Council has published a range of relevant resources for those working with children and young people affected by trauma and bereavement and includes:
- https://uktraumacouncil.org/resources.
- Critical Incidents in Educational Communities.
- Guidance on creating the best environment for recovery.
- Traumatic Bereavement for children & young people.
British Red Cross offers workshops on Empathy and Migration and Coping With Challenges for young people. More information can be found on their web page including resources on:
- How to talk to children about conflict.
- Talking with young people about a major emergency.
- Dealing with emotional and physical distress.
There also open source guidance on how to spot ‘fake news’ for young people and understanding hate crime for children.
Other Useful Organisations and Links
- Involve have a practical framework on building community cohesion.
- The NaCTSO Counter Terrorism Crime Prevention Toolkit is aimed at small organisations. It contains helpful, low-cost solutions to deter crime and counter terrorism e.g. making it difficult to gain access to premises, increasing chance of detection and reducing access to contents and victims.
- Protect UK have a 5-step process for risk management including guidance around CCTV, doors and locks, windows, shutters and grilles – as well as how to develop a security culture.
- Migration Exchange have shared this blog with advice for organisations in the migration sector, and funders on what actions to take to protect communities from far-right violence.
- Hope not Hate have a list of community resources, and information on what you can do about anti-migrant protests. They have developed guides to online safety and security for temporary asylum accommodation, drawing on their work with organisations working in the refugee and migration sector.
- NEON has comprehensive advice on messaging and framing communications on Far Right Violence.
- British Future provide a practical guide to messaging that combats hate crime and prejudice.
- The Belong Network have blogged on Preventing Tension and Conflict in Communities and good practice on Building Shared Ground and Addressing Community Tensions.
- Social Change are specialists in Crime Reduction and Community Cohesion and offer services to help you bring about behaviour change.
