Why Should You Report Hate Crimes via Open Out?

Hate crime is defined as ‘Any crime where the perpetrator’s prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised’. You can be a victim of Hate crime because of your race, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.

We know that many Hate crime incidents go unreported leaving offenders free to commit similar offences with impunity. Indeed many offenders consider minority communities an easy target because many incidents are never recorded. Even when they are, the person reporting may feel uncomfortable notifying the police about an incident. There are a number of reasons why this might be the case. For example, a person may worry that they will not be taken seriously. They may even fear that making a complaint will make the situation worse. Open Out recognises these kinds of fears and wants to assure you that all incidents are dealt with respectfully, sensitively and confidentially.

You should report incidents that you believe are motivated by racism or faith Hate. These would include actions such as: - harassment by neighbours, bullying in school, at work or at home, derogatory verbal comments, damage to property etc. There are several ways you can report incidents. In an emergency you can contact the police directly on 999. In other cases you can report to George at CRISP. Additionally, there are Police Officers who specialise in dealing with Hate crime incidents. You can report to the Hate Crime Manager for Cambridge Police on: 01223 358966. All incidents are taken seriously!

You can also report incidents via the Cambridge Open Out scheme. Open Out is a reporting scheme for Hate crimes. Reporting centres have been established within the community to allow Hate crime incidents to be reported easily and provide an alternative to contacting the police directly.

Reports are forwarded to the Open Out team and you will be contacted to discuss how you want the incident to be dealt with. The Open Out members are Cambridgeshire police, Cambridge Racial Incidents Support Project (CRISP) and Cambridge City Council Racial Harassment Service. Reports can also be made anonymously.

Finally, why should you report incidents? If these crimes are not reported criminals who target minority communities will remain free to commit further crimes. They will perceive YOUR COMMUNITY to be an easy target because you suffer in silence. HATE CRIME HURTS. Reporting it enables Open Out agencies to highlight areas of concern and take appropriate steps. Hate crime is UNACCEPTABLE. By reporting it - no matter how small an incident seems - you may be able to prevent these crimes from happening to someone else and help make Cambridgeshire a safer place for all the community!

Open Out is sponsored by the community safety partnerships of Cambridge City, South Cambs and East Cambs County Councils.

Open Out Scheme Reporting Centres.

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum

CRISP Office - contact George

62-64Victoria Road,

Cambridge CB4 3DU

01223 462615 or e-mail crisp@cecf.co.uk

Cambridge Open Out Co-ordinator.

Contact 01223 823552 Or e-mail: Marie.Mckearney@cambs.pnn.police.uk

City Council Harassment Officer

44 St Andrews Street, Cambridge, CB2 1BR

01223 457967

Cambridge Independent Advice Centre

41 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AW.

01223 712290

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum

Cambridge Open Out Co-ordinator.

City Council Harassment Officer

Cambridge Independent Advice Centre

Addenbrookes Hospital

Cambridge School of Languages

The Community Rooms

01223 356454

Meadows Community Centre

Impington Village College

Ormiston Childrens and Families Trust

Centre 33

Chinese Community Centre

The Cathedral Centre

Ely Citizen Advice Bureau

Hereward Housing Ely