Police in the Midlands have launched a new strategy to support victims of hate crime around the region. Warwickshire and West Mercia Police have introduced the strategy in a bid to support victims and help improve the reporting of hate crime.
The strategy includes the setting up of a dedicated hate crime section on the forces' websites with details of how to report crimes and support groups. It also makes specific mention of Islamophobic hate crime for the first time, with a direct reference to the Tell MAMA campaign monitoring offences against Muslims.
Last week a former Metropolitan Police commander had warned of a backlash against Muslims following recent terrorist atrocities following recent terror attacks in London.
Incidents of hate crime are underreported locally and nationally, with an estimated half of all offences not reported to police.
Speaking about the new strategy in the Warwickshire and West Mercia Police regions, Chief Superintendent Charles Hill said: "Despite a steady increase in the reporting of hate crimes in recent years we know that they are still underreported and this is why we felt it was important to set out exactly what victims can expect when they contact the police.
"From the moment a victim of hate crime contacts the police they should have the confidence that they will receive the highest levels of service.
"This new policy clearly identifies the roles that officers and staff have to play at each stage of a hate crime investigation.”
