Cymru-Wales Chief Crown Prosecutor addresses hate crime seminar

21/05/2012

Wales' Chief Crown Prosecutor, Jim Brisbane, has re-affirmed the CPS' commitment to tackling all forms of hate crime at a community event in Newport.

The Gwent Police-organised seminar was attended by community groups from around Gwent and highlighted the support offered by criminal justice agencies to victims and witnesses. Attendees also heard from hate crime experts and those affected by hate crime.

Speaking after the event, Jim Brisbane said:

"We want to raise awareness of hate crime as an issue and reassure local communities that we are completely committed to playing our part in tackling it.

"Sadly, we know that all too often victims of hate crime simply put up with it rather than report it to the police. We want people to know that they do not have to suffer in silence. The criminal justice agencies are there to support them and bring offenders to justice."

Speakers at the event included Kathryn Stone OBE, Chief Executive of Voice UK, a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable people who have experienced crime or abuse. The seminar also heard from Sylvia Lancaster, whose daughter Sophie was killed in 2007.

There were also updates from hate crime experts from Gwent Police,  the Crown Prosecution Service, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Torfaen People First and Torfaen County Borough Council.

Gwent Police's Deputy Chief Constable Jeff Farrar opened the seminar, saying:

"We at Gwent Police like to think that we are have made real progress in raising awareness of hate crime, encouraging people to report it and tackling it. Together with our partners we have implemented services for victims and witnesses to provide them with the support and advice they need so that, if they have experienced a hate crime in any of its forms, they will have the confidence to report it to us."