Commissioner’s fight against hate crime (From Swindon Advertiser)

Commissioner’s fight against hate crime

1:20pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News

Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner

POLICE and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson is visiting a local charity which aims to help empower people with learning disabilities.

Mr Macpherson will be meeting Swindon Advocacy Movement (SAM) on Tuesday to speak to people with learning difficulties, including some who have campaigned about hate crime, about their perceptions and experiences in relation to hate crime.

The Commissioner’s visit to SAM comes following Wiltshire Police supporting a national drive to increase reporting of hate crime by running an awareness campaign to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward.

The ‘Challenge it, Report it, Stop it!’ campaign is part of the government’s action plan and blueprint to tackle the problem.

Mr Macpherson said: “I was able to meet some of the staff and advocates at SAM before I was elected commissioner.

“I am looking forward to returning to SAM to speak to those with learning difficulties and advocates about how they feel victims of hate crime are supported by public agencies and other organisations in Swindon.

“It can be very distressing to be a victim of this sort of crime, especially for those who experience it on a regular basis, and they shouldn’t have to tolerate it.”

You can report hate crime on the police 101 number or 999 if it is an emergency.