GMP supporting this year's GM Hate Crime Awareness Week

Greater Manchester Police is supporting this year’s GM Hate Crime Awareness Week, as multiple partners and agencies commit to tackling abuse and providing further support for victims.

GMP is determined to tackle hate crime across the entirety of Greater Manchester, and works closely with communities to ensure they receive the best possible service. Over the next few days, officers across each district will be taking part in a range of activities and events.

The launch of the week today (5 February 2024), saw multiple agencies and groups gather to present the various work they have done in the diverse communities of Greater Manchester. This year's theme is intersectionality - a term that acknowledges that many people have will multiple social identities that define who they are, such as race, gender, sexuality, and religion.

The event included poems from members of the community and local school pupils, a talk from the Deputy Mayor about GMCA’s new consultation, group debates and discussions, and people with learning disabilities sharing their experiences.

Representing GMP were several officers, including Chief Superintendent Stephanie Parker, Strategic Hate Crime Lead for the force. GMP is constantly evolving and working on new plans, and Ch Supt Parker provided examples of this to the session. They included:

• Continued work with our Hate Crime Working Group to better understand our community’s needs.
• Working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to assist in successful arrests and prosecutions.
• Refreshing our Hate Crime policy
• Putting in place the right support for police officers and staff who themselves are victims of hate crime.
• Learning from experience, and understanding how to continuously improve going forward.

Ch Supt Parker said: “Hate crime is something that can have a huge impact on victims, massively affecting their confidence and feeling of belonging and acceptance in the place they call home. As a police force we are committed to tackling hate crime wherever it is reported to us and providing the best possible service to victims.

“From working with the CPS to improve prosecution rates to engaging with our vibrant communities, we will continue to work to rid the scourge of hate crime from the streets of Greater Manchester. If you have been a victim, please do get in touch with us – your safety is our priority and we will do what we can to get you justice."

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green, said: “There is no place for any hate in Greater Manchester. We want everyone in our community to feel safe to be themselves without fear of prejudice or attack.

“Sadly, we see up and down the country horrendous acts of hate crime and we want to be greater than hate. Greater Manchester’s strength is its friendly people and its diverse communities.

“If people see hate crime taking place, I want them to feel empowered to report it, that way we can all tackle this despicable behaviour.”

To find out more about what GMP is doing about hate crime and how to report it, visit Hate crime | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)