Hate crime victims support
HATE CRIME: At Sherburn Library is senior service development assistant. (BUY THIS PHOTO L8571TS) Picture: Tony Saxton
A NUMBER of neutral centres where people can confide to report incidents of hate crime, have opened in Selby.
The six centres were unveiled last week and aim to provide support to people suffering from racism, bullying and other kinds of abuse. The centres were chosen to be at libraries and community meeting points due to the neutral grounds associated with such venues.
Julie Blaisdale, North Yorkshire County Council assistant director of libraries and community services, said: “Libraries are seen as very neutral and people may feel safer coming in to speak to library staff.”
It is estimated that around 75 percent of hate crime is unreported, leading to the idea of these new calling points for victims.
Colin Moreton, community safety officer at Selby District Council, said: “A hate crime is any which was motivated by hatred on the grounds of a person’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. It’s bad enough being a victim of crime at any time, but these sorts of crimes are far more serious and have a more direct effect because they are targeting individuals.”
The campaign is a joint initiative between SDC and North Yorkshire Police and its aim is to encourage people suffering to report the crimes.
The centres can be found at: Horton Housing, Portholme Road, Selby; Selby Citizen’s Advice Bureau at rear of 4 Park Street; Selby Library, Micklegate; Selby North Children’s Centre, Flaxley Road; Selby South Children’s Centre, Barwic Parade and Sherburn Library.
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Weather for Goole
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
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