Standing up against hate in Stockport
This year, the Council is teaming up with Stockport County Football Club to promote Hate Crime Awareness Week at its home fixture against Barnsley on Saturday 8 February. Information will be made available to supporters attending the match at Edgeley Park on how to report a hate crime as well as providing other advice and support.
As well as linking up with Stockport County FC, the Council is working alongside local partners, including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Police, and other community organisations to ensure residents understand what hate crime is, how to report it, and how they can stand up to prejudice. Defined as any criminal act motivated by prejudice or hostility based on race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or other protected characteristics, hate crimes not only harm individuals but also disrupt communities.
There is lots going on in Stockport to mark the week with a range of events and activities aimed at raising awareness, encouraging reporting, and fostering an inclusive community. Stockport Council works with partners all year round as part of the Safer Stockport Partnership, focussed on keeping residents and visitors safe and strengthening our communities – a key part of the One Stockport, One Future Borough Plan. The Safer Stockport Partnership brings together many public and voluntary organisations to reduce crime, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour and the impact it has on the people of Stockport.
Councillor Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport at Stockport Council, said:
“Hate crime has no place in Stockport. We have a proud history as a welcoming and inclusive borough that celebrates diversity. Our shared values of tolerance and inclusivity are an intrinsic part of what makes our borough a place people want to live, work, relax in or visit. Our brilliant local football club, Stockport County, has always had a proud heritage as a welcoming family orientated club itself. County shares these values and our commitment to challenging hate crime.
“It’s important that those affected by hate incidents report them – no one should feel afraid because of who they are or who they love. The Council, County and its partners will challenge hate wherever it arises and continue to work together to support victims and make Stockport no place for hate.”
Gavin Bailey, Chief Operating Officer at Stockport County FC, said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to work closely with Stockport Council, Greater Manchester Police and other local partners to drive the message home that hate is not welcome in Stockport.
“Our EFL home fixture against Barnsley will see agencies come together to encourage our supporters and others who have experienced or witnessed hate crimes to report them – together, we can stop hate crime in the borough.”
Stockport Chief Inspector for Prevention Andrew Harty said:
“Whilst Hate Crime Awareness Week re-affirms our commitment to tackling hate crime, we are regularly reviewing and refreshing our policies and plans across Stockport which run alongside the force’s stance on tackling hate crime. This means that we can be the best equipped and up-to-date when clamping down on criminality.
“We know this type of criminality can have an incredibly traumatic impact on victims – abuse and actions from individuals can leave them feeling unsafe in their own communities.
“This is no place for this type of crime in Greater Manchester and we as a force are committed to safeguarding people and property, investigating reports, and taking action against offenders.
“Working together with our partners such as Stockport Council and Stockport County FC together with others from the Safer Stockport Partnership during events like this awareness week shows that we stand firm and will help get the message out to our local communities that we do not tolerate hate in Stockport.”
