All people deserve to live in safe and secure communities, where they are free to prosper and live rewarding lives that contribute to the general wellbeing of our county.

Nobody should be prevented from contributing to their community or victimised because of who they are, what they look like or the beliefs they hold. Criminal activity of any kind, directed against any community, race or religion has absolutely no place in Essex or the UK.

Hate crime reporting has increased by 60 per cent in Essex, from 1,079 recorded accounts in 2015-2016, to 1,931 in 2016-2017. Hate crime is defined as any incident, which may constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hostility towards a protected characteristic. These protected characteristics are Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Disability.

Hate crime is particularly targeted towards a person’s identity and can have a harmful effect on its victims, as well damaging the confidence of whole communities. In Essex we want to build safer and stronger communities where people from different backgrounds all have the opportunity to prosper and contribute.

Safer Essex partners – the Community Safety Partnerships, Essex County Council, Essex Police, the Office of the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, the Association of Community Voluntary Services, Essex Community Rehabilitation Company, Essex Drug and Alcohol Team, Essex Youth Offending Service, Essex Trading Standards, and other partners - are developing a Hate Crime Strategy that will set out our commitment to tackling hate crime in Essex. Partners envisage a strategy that will coordinate their existing and future work to deliver a more effective and impactful response to support victims and perpetrators.

We would like to know your views on how the Hate Crime Strategy could make a difference in your community. A public consultation will commence on Tuesday 28 November and finish on Friday 2 February 2018.

Take part in the consultation

View the proposals and consultation in an Easy Read format.

The strategy will be launched in May 2018 following the conclusion of the consultation, and partners will work together with communities and agencies to develop a framework that provides a clear way forward to challenging hate crime within Essex.

Click the following link for additional information about the proposed Hate Crime Strategy.

To discuss any aspects of the consultation contact neil.monk@victimsupport.org