Published: Saturday, 6th February, 2010 12:00pm

Getting to grips with hate crime

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VICTIMS of hate crime will be able to report incidents thanks to a new centre dedicated to dealing with reports.

The Hate Crime Reporting Centre was set up by the Caring, Learning and Supporting Partnership (CLASP), a group of self-advocates with learning support needs, and will be open every Friday from 1pm-3pm in The Bradbury Centre, Wokingham.

Vicky Stubbs, 39, of Longs Way, is a member of CLASP who has been trained by the police to take reports of hate crime and will run the centre.

She said: "The training has helped me understand what a hate crime is and how I can help people who have been a victim of one. I will be able to listen and talk to people one-to-one and what they tell me can remain confidential."

The aim of the centre in Rose Street is to offer a friendly place where anybody who has been harassed, abused or victimised will be able to talk to a trained officer.

Julie White, self-advocacy co-ordinator for CLASP, said: "People are often too frightened to go to the police station to report hate crime, particularly those with learning difficulties.

"The hope is that the more reports of hate crime we have, the more we can stamp it out."

She added: "The service is aimed at vulnerable people, but we would not turn away anybody."

Hate crime is a crime or harassment motivated by hatred of another person because of their race, sexuality, religion, disability or gender.

Community members such as the police have worked together to get the centre open. "It is really important," said PCSO Will Gilbert.

"We have been quite involved with starting up the reporting centre. I feel it is really worthwhile."

Carol-Anne Bidwell, community safety officer, added: "This is a fabulous example of a group of people who want to do something for themselves that the whole community can benefit from."