Hate Crime Initiative

Hate Crime is not tolerated in Sutton. That’s the message from a ‘Hate Crime Awareness’ evening at Sutton Police station organised by the Safer Sutton Partnership Service (SSPS), which manages the community safety services on behalf of the borough.

The SSPS is calling on all residents to help stamp out prejudice by reporting whenever they are a victim or witness to a hate incident. Hate incidents cover any prejudice, insult or physical attack based on disability, gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion and sexual orientation. Police in Sutton receive comparatively few crime reports of this nature which does not reflect the real frequency of hate incidents in our communities.

Hate incidents can be easily reported using the Stop Hate reporting line, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 138 1625. They can be also contacted by text, web chat, and text relay allowing accessibility to all residents in Sutton (see below).

Act. Det. Insp. Janice Cawley at Sutton Police Station said it’s important for members of the public to report hate crime. “If you don’t report it, we don’t know it’s happening. If we don’t know it’s happening then we can’t tackle it,” she explained.

Offenders can expect to receive tougher sentences if they commit crimes against victims because of their disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation. This is because the impact of ‘hate crimes’ resonates far wider than on just the victim - creating distress and a fear of crime amongst local communities.

Ian Kershaw, Head of Planning and Performance at Sutton police station, said hate incidents are wide ranging. If a victim or witness feels that an incident is based on hate, no matter how minor, they should report it. Hate crimes have no place in our modern society and we want to send out a strong message that perpetrators will feel the full impact of the law if they commit their crimes in Sutton,” he said.

N.B.
A hate crime or incident is any behaviour that someone believes was caused by hostility, prejudice or hatred of disability; gender identity; race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage; religion, faith or belief; or sexual orientation.
It can include name calling or verbal abuse; graffiti or writing (i.e. emails); damage to property; physical attacks or violence; threats or intimidation; bullying or harassment; arson; and murder.