Southern Housing launches campaign to cut hate crime on housing estates » Housing » 24dash.com

Southern Housing Group has launched a new campaign to cut hate crime on its housing estates.

Despite the most recent figures issued by the Home Office showing a drop in recorded hate crime, Southern Housing Group believes that a further decline can be reached through a public awareness campaign on its housing estates.

Hate Crime can manifest itself in a variety of guises. Whether it is racial, religious, sexual lifestyle or on disability grounds, Southern Housing Group is warning its residents that hate criminals and other perpetrators of anti-social behaviour could ultimately face the loss of their home.

Home Office statistics show that the typical hate offender is likely to be a young white male.  Most homophobic offenders are aged 16-20 and most race hate offenders are under 30.

Under the headline “You do not have to suffer in silence”, posters and leaflets will be distributed to all Southern Housing Group estates including those within its subsidiary companies of James Butcher and South Wight Housing Associations.

The leaflet recommends that residents should report all hate crimes to either the police, a third party reporting centre or Southern Housing Group’s Service Centre.

Part of the aim of the campaign is to ensure that victims are aware of who they can contact for support and advice. The leaflet includes a useful list of specialist organisations who can give immediate help.

To help bring offenders to justice, residents are encouraged to record information and provide as much supporting evidence as possible. In addition, residents are advised to give regular updates to either the police or Southern Housing Group.

Supporting the campaign, Home Office Minister, Alan Campbell said: “I welcome this plan to help victims of hate crime. We have made considerable progress in tackling hate crime in recent years, by introducing a higher sentence for all crimes aggravated by hate whether on grounds of race, faith, disability or sexual orientation.

"We will continue to work across government and its agencies to tackle hate crime.”

Tom Dacey, Chief Executive of Southern Housing Group, said: “At first sight, it may seem strange for a Housing Association to be involved in a campaign to highlight hate crime.

"However, research shows that the majority of hate crimes occur near to the victim's home while they are going about their daily business. 

"Southern Housing Group believes that it has a duty of care to provide advice as to where residents can get help.

“Our approach is to support victims and to contact them within 24 hours of a report.  Most hate criminals live in the same neighbourhood as their victims, which allows the campaign to have a two pronged attack. 

“We want the miscreants to know that their behaviour will not be tolerated.  We will work with victims through our support network, but hate criminals should also be aware that the ultimate sanction could be the loss of their home.

“No one should be scared to live in their own home,” added Mr Dacey.  “We are just a phone call away.”

Southern Housing Group has also adopted changes to its polices including new guidance on how best to help those suffering from hate related anti social behaviour.

Senior housing officers will work closely with victims to build up an action plan to find a solution. Active measures can include providing additional security measures, taking legal action and where appropriate and possible working with other agencies to enable transfers.