New support for victims of hate crime

A total of eight organisations from the voluntary sector will receive grants of up to £50,000 to help run projects that work to prevent hate crime and provide specialist support to victims including counselling, access to information and training for front line staff.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

"Hate crime ruins lives. Everyone should be free to express themselves without the fear of harassment simply because of who they are.

"We are determined to tackle these devastating crimes which is why last year the government launched its Hate Crime Action Plan which sets out our response to the challenges we face. 

"This funding will provide more victims and their families with the access to the support they need so they will have the confidence to report crimes, knowing they will be taken seriously and acted on."

The Hate Crime Action plan, published in September 2009, includes 70 short to medium terms actions for government and criminal justice agencies across all five hate crime strands; disability, race, religion, sexuality and transgender.

This new funding comes as Stonewall launched its new guide "Blow the whistle on gay hate". The handy guide is aimed at encouraging more lesbians and gay men who have been victims of hate crimes to come forward and report them. The guide provides practical information on how to report a crime and where to get help and will be made available to bars, clubs, lesbian, gay and bisexual groups and the police.