Devon and Cornwall Businesses Urged to Take a Stand: Will You Pledge Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime?

This Hate Crime Awareness Week, Devon & Cornwall Police are urging businesses and organisations across the region to take a stand against hate crime by pledging their commitment to a Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime policy. The pledge, first launched in 2016, encourages communities and businesses to unite in making Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly safer for everyone.

What is the Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime Pledge?

The Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime pledge allows organisations to show their support for creating an environment where everyone in the community feels safe and respected. By making the pledge, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to rejecting hate crime in all its forms. This includes crimes motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity.

Inspector Rebecca Le Cheminant, leading the Force’s Diverse Community Teams, highlighted the importance of this pledge, stressing that hate crime will not be tolerated in the region. Devon & Cornwall Police have teams dedicated to supporting victims and working with community groups to spread the message of zero tolerance across the area.

For more details on how to sign up for the pledge and to download resources, you can visit devon-cornwall.police.uk/zero-tolerance.

How is Hate Crime Defined?

Hate crime is any criminal offence perceived by the victim or others to be motivated by prejudice or hostility towards certain characteristics. This includes:

• Race or perceived race
• Religion or perceived religion
• Sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
• Disability or perceived disability
• Transgender identity or perceived transgender identity

Devon & Cornwall Police are committed to tackling hate crime and supporting victims. If you have experienced or witnessed such crimes, you can find more information and support at www.victimcare-dc.org or contact the police’s Victim Care Unit directly on 01392 475900.

How Safe Do You Feel in Your Neighbourhood?

Devon & Cornwall Police are also encouraging local residents to take part in their community safety survey. The survey aims to gather feedback on how safe people feel in their neighbourhoods and to identify key issues affecting local areas. Share your thoughts and take the survey at alerts-survey.dc.police.uk.

For more support, you can also contact Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit the Victim Care website.