New Greater Manchester plan to tackle hate crime launched

The GM Hate Crime Plan (2024-2028) aims to tackle hate crime and bring communities together over the next four years.

The plan comes after Greater Manchester Police recorded 9,613 hate crimes between September 2023 and August 2024.

The plan, launched during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, will focus on education and raising awareness of hate crime, its consequences, and how to report it, while also improving support for victims.

No Place for Hate flyers were handed out at the Hate Crime Plan launch (Image: Supplied)

Hate crime is defined as "any criminal offences perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, towards someone based on a personal characteristic" and in Greater Manchester, this is checked across six strands: race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, transgender identity, and alternative subcultures.

At a launch event at Manchester Cathedral, partners set out how they will support the delivery of the plan and its six priorities, in neighbourhoods and communities across the city-region.

Priorities include; improving education around hate crime, prevention and early intervention towards hate crime, and bringing communities together to tackle hate crime.

Other are increasing communication and awareness of hate crime and its consequences, improving the confidence to report hate crime and improving support for victims of hate crime.

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for safer and stronger communities, said: "We recognise that we have developed this plan at a time of domestic tensions, with criminal disorder and violence in the summer, and heightened international conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

"I acknowledge the depth of concern, and we will continue to work with all our communities, especially the Muslim, Jewish and Ukrainian communities, to ensure all are supported.

"Everyone has the right to live in safety without fear and we will never accept discrimination, prejudice, violence or hate in our city region.

"This plan sets out our commitment to tackling hate crime in all its forms and I strongly believe that by empowering communities and putting an emphasis on education and early intervention we can bring people together and reduce division across our neighbourhoods."

Greater Manchester Police officers attended the Hate Crime Plan launch (Image: Supplied)

Since the violent disorder of July and August, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), GMP and the 10 local authorities of Greater Manchester have been working with partners to understand the impact on our residents and local businesses.

This partnership work will continue over the coming months to assist Greater Manchester communities affected by criminal disorder and violence in their recovery.

The new Hate Crime Plan will support the delivery of this work and help the city region become a safer and stronger place for all its communities, residents and visitors.

Superintendent Mike Russell, GMP’s force lead for hate crime, said: "Everyone in Greater Manchester has the right to feel safe and protected in their own communities, free from being the target of hate and abuse for who they are, which is why we fully support GMCA’s refreshed Hate Crime Plan.

"We regularly work with local partners, agencies, and charities to better understand the ways in which to support those who have been victims of hate crime.

"By engaging with our diverse and vibrant communities, we can better influence our approach to a multitude of issues that people are encountering, and take action appropriately to ensure that we are offering the best service possible.

"GMP are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and if you are reading this and think you have been a victim of hate crime, please report it.

"We will listen to you and make sure you get the justice you deserve."