Hate crime campaign is hailed a success - Crosskeys homes

A year-long hate crime awareness campaign by Cross Keys Homes in the Dogsthorpe and Welland area has just been concluded successfully.

The campaign’s aim was to increase the understanding of hate crimes and the impact it has on victims.  It also concentrated on helping those who had experienced hate crimes.

A number of initiatives were run by Cross Keys Homes in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Peterborough Race Equality Council, Peterborough Mediation under the auspices of the Safer Peterborough Partnership which included events such as a world food and culture New Year party.  This event invited children to take part in dressing up in various costumes, savouring foods from many countries as well as enjoying and learning about different cultures.

Another new enterprising initiative was developed to bridge the gap between generations and forge relationships.  This involved residents at Larch Grove sheltered scheme being visited regularly by young people who had previously caused anti-social behaviour at the scheme.  This befriending initiative has been so successful that even after the end of the campaign the friendships made continued and the young people are now helping residents at Larch Grove with their gardening.

Gemma Wood, Cross Keys Homes anti-social behaviour manager, said: “This is a fine example of what can be achieved when agencies pull together.  Many of the initiatives embodied in this year-long campaign will be rolled out across Peterborough as a good example of best practise.  We are very pleased with the results.”

Gary Goose, Strategic Manager for the SaferPeterborough partnership, said: “The campaign has been a great success and the contribution of organisations working towards the same goal bolstered the work carried out in communities.

“We were able to distribute hate crime literature aimed at young people as well as adults and support a sticker campaign that was fronted by former Eastenders actor and victim of hate crime, David Proud.

“Cross Keys Homes is part of a multi-agency team that meet every month to address hate crime issues and tackle its root causes. Their support led to a successful first-ever hate crime conference where officers from other services and members of the public made significant contributions to this year’s hate crime action plan for the city.”

If you are a victim of hate crime you can report it to the Police on 999 in an emergency and 101 in a non-emergency; or call Peterborough Race Equality Council (PREC) on 01733 554630 or Cross Keys Homes on 01733 396404.

Being different isn’t a crime. Hate Crime is. Report it.