Essex Police is joining forces with communities across the county to Stand Together and ‘Stop The Hate’.
The force and its partners are taking part in a national drive to promote awareness of Hate Crime using the hashtag #WeStandTogether and encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim to seek help.
Officers in Essex Police have been tweeting their support for the campaign and minority groups in the county have also been declaring their backing.
Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason said: “In the last year and a half we have been pushing new ways for victims of hate crime and hate incidents to raise their concerns without coming directly to the police.
“There is a great deal that we can all do to help people suffering from discrimination and prejudice but building the trust required to provide that help can take time.
“Victims, whether it be on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability, need to report it so that we can sort it but that alone can take great courage to do.
“That’s why in Essex we have helped to set up and promote a system of Hate Incident Reporting Centres (HIRCs) that allows people to raise hate crime issues without having to make direct contact with the police.
“This is already having an impact with reporting of hate crime incidents rising from 1,583 in 2012 to 1,926 in 2014.”
Essex Police has helped to develop the HIRCs network as a member of the Strategic Hate Crime Prevention Partnership and there are now 20 HIRCs and 250 Hate Crime Ambassadors in the county.
The HIRCS aim to make it easier for members of the public to report hate incidents and crimes, by providing safe and accessible places for them to go with information.
They are especially aimed at people who may find it difficult to approach the police, for whatever reason, and would feel more comfortable in a familiar environment.
The Hate Crime Ambassadors who run them have had special training in hate crime awareness and report taking. They also aim to engage actively with the wider community in promoting hate crime awareness.
Katharine Washbrook from the Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services Be Safer Essex, a community partner organisation in the HIRC network, said: “In the last year we have seen the HIRC network growing in size and more community groups seeking them out.
“I hear of and see the devastating effects that hate crime can have on people and communities and the HIRCs are a vital way for victims to get the support they need in an environment they trust.
“Many people are keen to work with us but we know more needs to be done to build the network and increase its capacity to reach all areas of the community.”