REDDITCH residents are being asked to attend a special seminar on hate crime at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre as part of a countywide initiative for Hate Crime Awareness Week.

A hate crime is defined as any incident which is perceived by anyone - whether the victim or an onlooker - as having been motivated by disability, race, colour, religion, beliefs, ethnic origin, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender identity, age or other prejudice.

The meeting will encourage people to report hate crime in the town, give details of how incidents can be reported and outline what support is available to victims.

It will be attended by the Community Safety Team, West Mercia Police and other partners including the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, who offer advice and support to hate crime victims.

Ken Hazeledene, chairman of the North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnership said: “No one deserves to be targeted for being who they are. It is really important that we don’t just ignore hate crime and ‘let someone else deal with it’. Hate Crime is shockingly underreported – particularly disability hate crime – so I hope this campaign encourages people to speak up in the future.”

Inspector Darren Webster, hate crime lead for North Worcestershire, said: "Hate crime week is a chance to remind victims of hate crime that they shouldn't suffer in silence, that we will listen to them and we will investigate incidents.”

The meeting is being held on October 16 between 1 and 3pm, for more information email communitysafety@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.co.uk.

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a hate incident, can report it to police on the non-emergency number 101 or the emergency number 999. Alternatively, they can pick up a form from Redditch Town Hall visit unitedagainsthate.co.uk or call 0300 3038838.