WILTSHIRE Police is running an awareness campaign encouraging victims of hate crime to come forward.
The Challenge it, Report it, Stop it! campaign aims to raise awareness of hate crime, encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and deter potential offenders.
Research shows victims are reluctant to come forward, either through fear of attracting further abuse or because they don’t believe the police will take them seriously.
DI Kevin Osborn, from Wiltshire Police’s crime management unit, said: “Wiltshire is a predominantly rural community where people living in smaller communities suffering verbal abuse or intimidating behaviour may feel they simply don’t know who to turn to or that they just ‘have to put up with it’.
“Nobody has to put up with it. We want people to know that they will be supported, crimes will be investigated and there are teams of specially trained people and agencies who they can turn to for help and advice.”
Contact police on 101 or visit wiltshire.police.uk for the full range of contact options.
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