Gwent Police’s work on Hate Crime Support Charter recognised with Trustmark

Gwent Police has been recognised by Victim Support for taking steps to improve its response and support to victims and witnesses of hate crime.

The force has been awarded a new Trustmark, provided by the independent charity Victim Support.

The charity’s Hate Crime Support Charter aims to make a more equal, safe and inclusive Wales.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “Hate crime of any kind will not be tolerated in Gwent. It is a horrible, complex offence and can leave victims dealing with physical and emotional damage for many years.

“We have previously been praised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services for our work on hate crime, and this latest recognition shows that we continue to work hard to improve services for victims of this appalling crime.”

Recently Gwent Police introduced a new service within Connect Gwent that provides support to victims and witnesses of crime, including hate crime. The Victim’s Care Unit ensures that victims receive timely information and support from their first report all the way through their criminal justice journey. This is in addition to the 40 hate crime support officers within Gwent Police that are specially trained to respond to reports of hate crime.

Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said: “Hate crime is something that can affect many different parts of our communities.

“It’s a crime that often doesn’t leave a physical scar, but can cause significant harm so it’s important that victims know we take these reports seriously.

“I encourage anyone who’s experienced this to come forward, report it, directly to us or one of our partner organisations so that we can give you the support you need.”