Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has released information about how to report a hate crime. 

A hate crime is any criminal offence targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

Hate crime is generally under reported due to a lack of awareness of what hate crime is and some people don’t like to contact or visit the police to report a hate crime.

What many people don’t know is that Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) is a designated Hate Crime Reporting Centre for anyone living or working in the borough that has been a victim of a hate crime.

WHBC officers are trained on how to help, support and advise victims of hate crime.

Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, executive member for environment, said: “Hate crimes are serious crimes and should not be tolerated in today’s society.

"I would encourage anyone that has been harassed, abused or assaulted because of who they are or what they believe in, to report what has happened to them to the police or if they feel more comfortable, by talking to officers at WHBC.

"I can assure residents that every victim of hate crime will be treated with the utmost sensitivity by WHBC staff and each case will be taken extremely seriously.”

Inspector Amy Sheldon, from the Welwyn Hatfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It’s really pleasing to hear that Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council are relaunching their Third Party Reporting Centre.

"Whilst we encourage all victims of hate crimes and hate incidents to contact police, we appreciate that some people may not feel comfortable doing so. The Third Party Reporting Centre gives you that extra option for making a report in a way that you are happy with."

To report a hate crime to WHBC, you can go to the office in Welwyn Garden City during opening hours and ask to speak to a Hate Crime Champion.