National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has joined forces with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and South Wales Police to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2020 (NHCAW) - which runs from Saturday, October 10^th to Saturday, October 17^th.

NHCAW is a week of action designed to raise awareness of hate crime, support those who have experienced hate crime, and remember those who have sadly been lost.

To support the campaign, a series of 5 videos have been produced, showing real people who each outline the characteristics that they feel describe them as individuals, in addition to their protected characteristic. All of the individuals are promoting the message: “There’s more to me than my…”

The aim of the thought provoking videos is to show diversity and promote inclusivity, to raise awareness of hate crime and encourage any victims to report instances of hate crime and/or find support. 

PC Bharat Narbad QPM, who features in the first of the awareness raising videos, said: “I was born in 1967 in the state of Gujarat in India and moved to Cardiff with my mother when I was 2 to join my father who was already working here.

“Sadly, I experienced racism in many forms growing up in the 70's, including at the business which was run by my father.  In the 90's I was continually stop/searched by the police for no reason and this was actually part of the reason why I decided to join the police in 1998 after working at a bank for ten years.

“The last 22 years of policing has been both rewarding and challenging. I have worked a range of roles – from a response officer answering 999 calls to a neighbourhood community officer, and even in plain clothes car crime.

“During my time in the police I helped form the South Wales Black Police Association and have been the Chair for the last 13 years. In this role I help and support officers who have experienced racism - both internally and externally. I have also acted as the Liaison Officer with the BAME communities of South Wales and the police.

“My current role in the police is in trying to make the force more representative of the community by encouraging and supporting BAME members of community in applying to the police service, as a result we have increased the number of ethnic minorities who have joined South Wales Police.

“My community work has been recognised through being awarded various diversity awards, including the Legacy Award at last year’s Black History month. In 2019 I was given my long service and good conduct award, and I was recognised at the Queens New Year’s Honour list and awarded the Queens Police Medal.

“I am committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and I believe National Hate Crime Awareness Week is important in recognising the impact that hate has on victims.”

A hate incident involves an act of hostility which you believe is motivated by your disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation (also known as protected characteristics). Verbal abuse, threats of violence, harassment, bullying, intimidation or online abuse are just some of the many forms of hate related incidents.  

A hate incident becomes a hate crime when a criminal offence has been committed because of hostility or prejudice, and this can include offences such as assault, harassment, theft, criminal damage, hate mail and fraud.

There are several ways you can report a hate crime, as a victim, witness, or reporting on behalf of someone else:

In an emergency: call 999; or to report non-urgent crime call 101 where you can speak to a member of South Wales Police, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Victims are always encouraged to contact the police but you can report the incident directly to Victim Support on 08456 121 900 24/7 and support services will be offered within 48 hours. You are also entitled to free confidential help and support from South Wales Victim Focus. They can help you regardless of when the incident took place or whether the police are to take further action. Contact them on 0300 303 0161.

You can also report online via the www.reporthate.victimsupport.org.uk website where further information and advice can be found.  More information can also be found at the South Wales Police Report Hate Page.