This Saturday 10th October marks the first day of National Hate Crime Awareness Week. Friends, Families and Travellers will be taking part by highlighting the impacts that hate crimes, both in person and online, have on Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. We are calling for better responses from social media companies and stronger support from the police.
Coordinated by 17-24-30 NationalHCAW and supported by charities and organisations across the UK, National Hate Crime Awareness Week encourages key Government bodies and members of the public to consider what they can do to prevent and address hate crime. It aims to bring people together to stand in solidarity with those affected by hate crime, to remember those we have lost, and support those who need ongoing support.
What can you do if you witness a hate crime?
- You can report hate incidents in person or online to Report Racism GRT. Report Racism GRT is a hate incident reporting site and support service for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers and will support you to raise the incident to the police, if you wish. You can also call Report Racism GRT on 01920 444 327.
- You can report hate or discrimination to True Vision. True Vision is a website supported by police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where victims of hate crime can report online. The website has a section dedicated to reporting crime against Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
- You can also report a hate crime as a victim or a witness to Stop Hate UK. Stop Hate UK offer independent and confidential Hate Crime reporting services around the UK. Call Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625.
Friends, Families and Travellers, Leeds GATE and GATE Herts have been working together on a project to report hate and to support the victims of hate crime. The project uses the independent Gypsy, Traveller and Roma race hate reporting site âReport Racism GRTâ to report, monitor and evaluate the outcomes of hate crime to build an evidence base which supports the case for a more effective government approach to combating hate crime and hate speech.
Speaking about National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Ivy Manning, Hate Crime Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers said:
âHate speech is getting worse and worse. People are being bolder with what they feel they can say because too often thereâs no consequences. I see violent threats and calls for Gypsy and Traveller âexterminationâ every day. We need to build bridges between newspapers, the police, social media and parliamentarians. Everyone needs to work together to ensure no one thinks hate speech or incitement of violence is okay.â
If you would like to see your MP doing more to stand up against discrimination directed towards Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in your area, you can ask them to sign our pledge card.
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works on behalf of all Gypsies, Roma and Travellers regardless of ethnicity, culture or background.
Media Contact
Lucy Hetherington, Communications Officer
Tel: 07425 419853 Email:Â lucy@gypsy-traveller.org
