• Message from the Home Secretary

• Press Release

I firmly believe that the True Vision campaign will make a significant contribution to encouraging victims of hate crime to report to the police.

It is absolutely vital that we get to grips with these despicable crimes, and give practical support to victims.

This includes helping to make the crime reporting path as smooth as possible, with no hidden or unexpected obstacles.

The self-reporting pack element of True Vision will be key to smoothing this path. I wish the launch of True Vision all the best.

Best wishes,

DAVID BLUNKETT

MR GAY UK AND FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER JOIN POLICE FOR 'TRUE VISION' HATE CRIME LAUNCH

THE national launch of the 'True Vision' project to tackle hate crime takes place in Birmingham next week.

The initiative has been supported with a Home Office grant of £90,000. Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "We are very supportive of the initiative and believe it is absolutely crucial to get to grips with hate crime and get everyone to co-operate, including the victims."

The project was first launched in October 2003 following a successful bid to the Police Reform Programme to fund a Midlands regional hate crime reporting pack and third party reporting form.

This allows victims and other people affected by hate crime (race, religious, homophobic and transphobic crime) to notify the authorities about incidents and seek advice.

The original idea for a comprehensive information pack came from South Yorkshire Police and the need for a national pack with a shared identity was identified by Staffordshire Police, who applied for funding.

Deputy Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, David Swift, said: "This unique partnership initiative between 23 police forces in England and Wales aims to combat hate crime by raising awareness of this problem and encouraging victims to come forward. This is an excellent example of the police and community working together in partnership to address this issue."

The Home Office grant of £90,000 paid for the latest pack, which contains information on bullying, personal safety, local contact groups, domestic violence and a self-reporting form.

To date, 23 forces have signed up to the 'True Vision' project, which provides the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and those suffering from racism, with a clear way to report hate crime. A new website - www.report-it.org.uk - also allows people to download a self-reporting form.

Cross border reporting means that a crime may have taken place in one force area but can be reported to a neighbouring force.

Project manager Detective Constable Peter Rigby, from Staffordshire Police, said: "Hate crime is vastly under reported. By encouraging more witnesses and victims to report incidents may prevent it happening to someone else. Even if victims don't want to give their name or address it is vital we know what has happened."

As well as the police, local councils, community safety partnerships and support groups are involved in 'True Vision'.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have contributed funding towards the race crime launch, due to take place on Thursday 6 May at the Warwickshire County Cricket ground in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Representatives from the forces involved will be attending, along with special guest retired England cricketer Gladstone Small. There is also an event in the evening at the Nightingale Club in Birmingham to tell guests more about the LGBT packs, which will be attended by Mr Gay UK, Jarrod Batchelor.

Issued by: Rachel Anstee
Press and Publicity Officer.

Information