POLICE have met with Syrian families settled in the North-East to discuss hate crime.

Officers held a meeting with more than 40 families who have moved to the region from the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

The meeting was held in the west end of Newcastle, where several families have settled, and was an opportunity for officers to discuss what response they could expect from the police in the UK.

Officers explained how local policing works, outlined the work that officers do in the area and how they are there to help people.

They also spoke to those attending the meeting about hate crime and the importance of reporting it to police.

Sergeant Graeme Barr, from Northumbria Police, said: "We were delighted to have been invited to the event and given the opportunity to speak to everyone.

“We got a great reception and really enjoyed meeting and speaking to people”.

He added: "A number of the people at the meeting have only moved into the area in the last few months.

“This was the first time they had spoken to a police officer and I hope that they went away knowing that the police here in Newcastle are there to help and support them should they need it.

"I think that we learned a lot from the event and i hope that those attending did too."