RESIDENTS in Kidderminster will be able to find out more about hate crime at an event being held as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The event on Thursday, October 15, at the Swan Shopping Centre, will give people the opportunity to find out about hate crime, how to report it and some of the support available to victims.

Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be joined at the event by representatives from other organisations, including the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, who offer advice and support to hate crime victims.

West Mercia Police recently joined forces with other local organisations to launch a new hate crime campaign aimed at increasing the reporting of hate crime.

On a national level, it is acknowledged hate crimes are underreported and this campaign aims to address this issue by giving people the confidence to report their ordeal.

The 'Being You Is Not A Crime: Hate Crime Is' campaign is running across the whole of the West Mercia policing area.

Inspector Darren Webster, hate crime lead for North Worcestershire, said: "Hate Crime Week is a chance to remind victims of hate crime that they shouldn't suffer in silence, that we will listen to them and we will investigate incidents.

"Victims of hate crime are targeted because of something they can't or don't want to change - this is wrong, we won't accept it and neither should anyone else."

Ken Hazeldene JP, chair of the North Worcester Hate Incident Partnership, said: "We have done events for Hate Crime awareness for the past three years and we are pleased that the previous events have encouraged members of the public to feel that they can report incidents of hate crime.

"It is hoped that this year we will be able to continue with this positive work and encourage more people to speak out about incidents of hate crime as no one should have to suffer in silence."