To mark the start of National Hate Crime Awareness Week from October 11 Lambeth Council is launching a survey to get people’s views on the issue, and holding a memorial to mark the 20th anniversary of a fatal homophobic attack in Clapham.
To complete the survey visit haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk.
The vigil is being held at Clapham Common Bandstand on Wednesday 15 October to remember Jody Dobrowski who in 2005 was attacked as he passed through Clapham Common in what was a hateful and deadly homophobic attack.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week is a week of action to encourage the public sector, the business and voluntary sectors and communities to work together to tackle hate crime across the UK.
Hate Crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim to or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s race or perceived race disability, faith, gender identity, or sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
Cllr Dr. Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “One of Lambeth’s great strengths is the diversity, but sadly the borough has had a painful history with those who would seek to target this diversity with hatred.
“The homophobic murder of Jody Dobrowski, and the 1999 Brixton nail bombing which targeted our Black communities injuring 48 people shows the consequences if hate is allowed to flourish unchecked.
“So it is vital we continue efforts to raise awareness of hate crime locally, improve reporting of incidents, and ensure that survivors receive appropriate support. We believe people can be reluctant to report hate crime, and we want to understand why that is and what we can change to make people more confident to officially share incidents.
“The council is also fully committed to playing its role in tackling hate crime, working closely with the police to monitor monthly hate crime levels and trends, working in schools to highlight the importance of reporting hate crime and engaging with community groups and businesses to understand the challenges hate crime presents to them.”
Following National Hate Crime Awareness Week Lambeth Council will join faith groups and the voluntary sector to hold a Community Cohesion event on November 10 at Lambeth Town in Brixton to discuss concerns the march raised and to re-state the borough’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
To find out more about the week visit nationalhcaw.uk/.
