Hate-crime reporting made easier

COMBATING hate crime . . . (from the left) Bruce Penhale (assistant director for communities), Inspector John Taylor, Tariq Rafique (Oldham Race Equality Partnership) and Father Phil Sumner

VICTIMS of hate crimes who don’t feel comfortable going to a police station can now report incidents at 17 different locations across the borough.

Libraries, colleges and community centres will now double up as reporting centres, following the official launch of the third party reporting network.

Third party reporting centres are a means of tackling the chronic under reporting of hate crime were recommended in the Macpherson report into the Stephen Lawrence murder.

A hate crime is any criminal offence where the victim or any other person (such as a witness) perceives that the motivation of the perpetrator’s hate is because of sex, race, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Third party reporting is designed to encourage the reporting of hate incidents by providing appropriate support for the victim through a partnership of relevant agencies and without revealing the victim’s personal details.

People can now report hate crime incidents at the following locations:

Greenfield library 01457-872 472

Crompton Library 01706- 842 184

Chadderton library 0161-665 2225

Limehurst library 0161-624 0351

Fitton Hill library 0161-633 2011

Northmoor Library 0161-633 1168

Uppermill Library 01457-872777

Lees library 0161-633 5764

Keyring 0161-628 4133

Oldham Race Equality Partnership race and hate crime project 0161-621 9690 (weekends and out of hours) Waseem 07535-706 808

Stop Hate 24 hour UK Helpline 0800-138 1625

The Link Centre 0161-770 1188

The Oldham College 0161-624 5214

Oldham Interfaith Forum 0161-624 6733

Greenhill Community Football Club 07881-898 815

Coppice Community Centre 0161-626 4586

Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre 0161-770 8000