POLICE are urging communities to help banish the “devastating” effects of hate crimes as part of a national campaign.

To mark National Hate Crime Awareness week, North Yorkshire Police are asking local communities to take a strong stance against hate crime and report any incidents witnessed to police.

Hate crime - where a person is targeted for reasons such as their race or sexuality - is not only isolated to verbal or physical abuse.

It can also involve vandalism, criminal damage, graffiti or arson among other offences.

It can shatter communities and causes division and fear and police are keen to stress that it is not just victims of hate crime who can report it.

Witnesses can report any incidents to police or to organisations such as Stop Hate UK, True Vision or Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire.

Speaking about the campaign, Supt Mark Khan, lead in force for hate crime said:

“Hate crime has a devastating effect on its victims and communities alike.

“It causes people to live in fear and change their daily behaviour, in the attempt to avoid unprovoked verbal and physical attacks.

“Some victims feel helpless and believe that this abuse is a way of life, that they have to accept the behaviour which is targeted at them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity.

“North Yorkshire Police want to ensure that those who inflict hate know it will not be accepted and it will not be tolerated.

“The message is clear - to target hate at a person because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender is a crime.”

In addition to reporting to the police, people can also go to Stop Hate UK, a 24-hour telephone hotline commissioned by Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

She said: “I’m very pleased hate crime is a priority for the police and we’ve seen an increase in reporting, which is encouraging.

“However, sometimes for a variety of reasons people don’t want to go to the police and would rather get help from elsewhere.

“Stop Hate UK provide such a service across North Yorkshire; they offer support and advice on what to do next, including reporting incidents.

“I am very keen to ensure that anyone who has been, or thinks they may have been a victim of hate crime, has the help they need, whether from the police or Stop Hate UK.”

For details visit northyorkshire.police.uk