EQuIP recieve a growing number of hate incidents in sport & leisure settings across Warwickshire

Reports of hate related incidents reported to Warwickshire charity EQuIP increased in 2018. 

EQuIP have received reports from people experiencing and witnessing racist comments at a childrens football matches, people have experienced disability hate crime in leisure facilities, racist and homophobic abuse have been expressed at local senior level and racist shouting from fans towards football players at both semi-professional and professional levels in Warwickshire and surrounding area.  

This growing trend in Warwickshire follows a simular to a national issue, particular at high level football matches.

The BBC have reported in September 2019 that hate crime at football matches in England and Wales rose by 47% during the 2018/19 season, according to new Home Office figures.

EQuIP, aWarwickshire based chaity who support victims of hate crime, are encouraging any person(s) that experiences and/or witnesses hate related abuse in sport or any other settings to always report.

Benji Evans from EQuIP commented 'Our charity [EQuIP] have seen an increase in reports coming from sports and leisure settings. This is a growing concern and we need to really understand all hate incidents that are occuring in Warwickshire so we are able to work with the police and other partners to address the issue.'

Evans continued 'The main issue is people often do not report and the perpetrators will simply get away with this unacceptable behaviour if it is not reported. We are aware that people are scared to report, but they can report to EQuIP without providing any personal details if they prefer. Feedback from community members suggests that many people have prefered to report hate incidents via the www.reporthatenow.com website and this enables their identify to remain anonymous'. 

There are various ways for people to report hate related incidents. 

You can ring the Police by calling 101 in a non-emergency situation, but always call 999 in an emergency. 

In Warwickshire, some people do not wish to contact the police directly, so they can report hate crimes/incidents to EQuIP, who will protect a persons identity and not pass on any details of the report without prior consent.

Reports to EQuIP can be made online via the www.reporthatenow.com website, you can send an email: advice@equipequality.org.uk, or for those that prefer to speak to someone in person, you can contact telephone EQuIP on 01788 863117 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).