Community cohesion and hate crime
What is community cohesion?
Community cohesion is what must happen in all communities across Norfolk to make sure different groups of people can live together and get on well. Integration needs to happen to enable existing residents and new residents to adjust to one another. This is key to successful community cohesion.
Building community cohesion is about building relationships between people with different personal characteristics, including those from new and settled communities. Experience has shown that violent extremism can emerge from the most cohesive communities, but extremist messages are less likely to find support in a community with good community cohesion.
Why is community cohesion important?
Community cohesion gives a sense of belonging – to a place, to a group, to a community. It helps people get on together in their local area, which in turn helps people feel safer and more secure in their neighbourhoods. A cohesive community can also help tackle violent extremism. A community where people have good contact and understanding with each other is less likely to foster extremist views.
It is important that all agencies across Norfolk win the trust of the public. It is recognised that certain communities may mistrust statutory agencies, whether through direct contact or word of mouth experiences. This mistrust, especially if one sector of the community feels remote from the services that other parts of the community enjoy can result in increased fear, and in extreme cases a rise in violent behaviour.
- People with different personal characteristics have similar life opportunities
- People know their rights and responsibilities
- People trust one another and trust local institutions to act fairly
It has been found that places which have low levels of community cohesion have certain things in common:
- Deprivation – the less affluent an area is, the lower the level of cohesion
- Isolation – whether an area is rural or cut off by physical barriers like major roads or waterways
- Changing in population - people only resident for a short time or have only recently arrived
- Decline in employment opportunities
There are a wide range of benefits to building cohesion, including:
- A joined-up community with people getting together to benefit the area
- Building trust
- Preventing crime and disorder
- People feel equal and treated fairly
- A better sense of belonging
What are hate crimes and incidents?
Any crime where the victim or any other person perceives it was motivated by hostility or prejudice towards their identity is a hate crime. This includes crimes perceived to be motivated by:
- race
- religion
- sexual orientation
- disability, or
- transgender-identity.
A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or because they are transgender. Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is important to report to the police.
Why should I report hate crime?
By reporting hate crime when it happens to you, you may be able to prevent these incidents from escalating or happening to someone else. You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime in your local area so they can better respond to it. Reporting makes a difference - to you, your friends, and your community.
How to report hate crimes and incidents
If you are in immediate danger, you should call 999.
You can report a hate crime via the police non-emergency number 101; in person at your local police station or report online.
To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report anonymously online via the Crimestoppers website.
Physical assault of any kind is an offence. If you’ve been a victim of physical assault you should report it.
Verbal abuse victims are often unclear whether an offence has been committed or believe there is little they can do. However, there are laws in place to protect you from verbal abuse. Even if you don’t know who verbally abused you, the information could still help how the police respond locally.
Incitement to hatred is when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hatred. That could be in words, pictures, videos, music, and includes information posted on websites. Examples of this include:
- messages calling for violence against a specific person or group;
- web pages that show pictures, videos or descriptions of violence against anyone due to their perceived differences; and
- chat forums where people ask other people to commit hate crimes against a specific person or group.
Our partnership response
The Community Safety Partnership is working together to promote understanding, respect and unity among diverse community members through education, engagement and effective response strategies. By building strong partnerships and empowering residents, we aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued, protected and able to thrive. Actions include:
- Increasing the take up of third party reporting centres via the Stop Hate in Norfolk campaign
- Improving reporting and awareness though engagement with faith networks, community groups, parish councils and the voluntary sector.
- Sharing information across the Community Safety Partnership about hate crime, community tensions, where to report, issues that may lead to community tensions and services available to provide support.
- Providing victims of crime, including hate crime, in Norfolk with a support offer that meets their needs and helps them cope through Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care.
Support is available
In Norfolk, Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care offer free, practical help, emotional support and with navigating the criminal justice system. You do not have to report your experience to the police to access this service.
True Vision has created a comprehensive list of support services operating nationally that can help, including some help specific protected characteristic groups.