Stop Hate UK, one of the leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of hate crime and discrimination, has announced the launch of a new hate crime reporting app. Its aim is to aid witnesses and those targeted because of their identity, throughout West Yorkshire, to report incidents of hate crime and be able to access information and advice about hate crime services.
Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties. Development of the app has been made possible by funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner of West Yorkshire, as part of the Supporting Victims of Hate Crime Fund.
Rose Simkins, Chief Executive of Stop Hate UK said: “This is an exciting new service giving West Yorkshire residents and visitors greater choice to report Hate Crime. The new app complements our own helplines and other reporting channels and, by capturing images of incidents, can provide the additional evidence needed to successfully investigate incidents. The information in the app about hate crime and other partner agencies within West Yorkshire will help people seek help as and when they are ready to do so – be that immediately after an incident or when they feel ready to do so.”
Rose continued: “All forms of hate crime are significantly under-reported. Some individuals and communities are reluctant or unwilling to talk to the police or their council. The app gives victims and witnesses a safe and independent way to tell our charity, Stop Hate UK, about their experiences and to explore their options for taking things further.”
Users will be able to report via the app anonymously if they prefer but where consent is given, Stop Hate UK will work with others to find the best possible solution to issues and problems which are reported to them.
The charity, whose patron is Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, of Clarendon in the Commonwealth Realm of Jamaica; and ambassadors are Canon Mark Oakley of St Paul’s Cathedral and Team GB para-athlete Adrian Derbyshire, set up the Stop Hate Line in 2006 as a direct response to Recommendation 16 of the Macpherson Report (the enquiry into the handling of the death of Stephen Lawrence) which states that victims and witnesses should be able to report Hate Incidents 24 hours a day and to someone other than the police.
The app can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching for ‘Stop Hate UK’ on either platform.