​ ​	In the first of a regular series from our local police force, Police Community Support Officer Shahid Asghar gives advice on how to handle hate crime.

Have you ever suffered verbal abuse about your race or disability?
Has anyone ever threatened you with violence as response to your sexuality?
Has anyone ever assaulted you because of your religious beliefs?

If the answer is yes, then you have been the victim of hate crime. A hate crime is any behaviour that the victim or any other person thinks was caused by hatred of race, age, disability, religion/beliefs, faith, sexuality, or gender identity.
 
You don’t have to suffer in silence.

You are protected by law, but we need to know it is happening so that we can help to put an end to it. Please report it. Help us to see what’s happening. Don’t put up with it – not now, not ever. 

Hate crime creates fear in victims, groups and communities. It can happen at home, in the street, on the bus, at school, at college, at work...anywhere. The person committing the crime might be a stranger, a friend, a relative...anyone. No hate crime is too minor to report to police.
 
If you are a victim or witness of hate crime or know someone who is, the police want to help. Please report it to the police in any of the following ways:

• Dial 999 in an emergency
• Dial 101 in a non-emergency
• From a text phone, dial 1800 10300 123 1212 (0r 18000 in an emergency)
• Report it to any police station
• Online at www.online.met.police.uk
• Report it to your local Safer Neighbourhood Team – www.met.police.uk/teams/wandsworth   

You can also report on the 24 hour Stop Hate UK helpline on 0800 138 1625. Or call Community Safety on (020) 8871 6567 for general crime prevention advice and assistance.