We’re now a third-party reporting centre for Hate Crime!
Hate Crime Awareness Week runs from 12 -19 October and highlights the importance of recognising, reporting, and addressing hate crime in our communities.
We're really pleased to let you know that we’re now a third-party reporting centre, which means anyone experiencing a hate crime can come to our offices and report it directly to us in a safe and supportive environment.
What is a hate crime?
Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility towards someone based on their actual or perceived disability, race, religion, transgender identity, or sexual orientation.
Therefore, hate crimes target one or more of the following five protected strands:
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual Orientation
- Transgender Identity
- Disability
Unfortunately, hate crime and hate incidents are often under reported which it why we have become a Third-Party Reporting Centre. We hope that by giving our communities a safe place to report incidents this will increase reporting and the flow of information from communities
Working together with West Midlands Police
Our Tenancy Services team has been actively working with West Midlands Police, undergoing training to better support victims of hate crime. This training means our teams are now equipped to signpost, refer, and provide tailored support to those affected.
Reports of hate crime to West Midlands Police
From March 2023 to March 2024, West Midlands Police recorded:
- 7,653 racial hate crimes
- 737 religious hate crimes
- 354 disability hate crimes
- 1,273 sexual orientation hate crimes
- 214 transgender identity hate crimes
In total, 9,646 hate crimes were reported across the West Midlands— a number that highlight just how crucial it is that we all play a part in tackling these issues.
What can you do?
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime, please encourage them to report it—either to the police or directly to our Tenancy Service team on tenancyservices@midlandheart.org.uk. You can also come into our office in Birmingham; 20 Bath Row, Birmingham, B15 1LZ.
