Stickers highlighting how to report hate crime and emphasising that it will not be tolerated are being distributed for display in taxis across Cleveland

Police are aware that taxi drivers suffer hate crime regularly, and don’t always report it and are working with drivers and firms to raise awareness that reporting can be done online, that any reports will be taken seriously, and those responsible brought to justice.

The stickers will highlight that hate crime will not be tolerated and that all incidents will be reported. They will be rolled out further in the coming months.

Across Cleveland there were 1,497 reported hate crimes in the last 12 months; 1,023 of these were racial, 210 relating to sexual orientation, 191 related to disability, 39 linked to religion/belief and 34 transgender hate crimes.

PC Danni Gibson, Hate Crime Coordinator, said: “We hope that by putting these stickers into taxis across Cleveland, people travelling in them will know that all incidents will be reported and that every crime will be thoroughly investigated.

“We don’t accept that anyone of any occupation should be subjected to abuse by others based on their race, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, religion, gender identity or for any other reason.

“During the recent Hate Crime Awareness Week we highlighted that hate crime does not have a place in our society and that we will take action against those who carry out these terrible crimes.”

PC Gibson, along with members of the engagement team, attend community groups and events across Cleveland to engage with communities and help break down barriers, in the hope of giving people the confidence to report hate crime.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: “Hate crime can have a huge impact on victims, yet it often goes unreported.

“We will always welcome and support anything that raises the profile of this problem and encourages victims to report it so that those responsible can be dealt with.”

Councillor David Coupe, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health, Public Protection and Digital Inclusion, said: “Hate crime is appalling in all its forms and we are fully supportive of this scheme to highlight the issue. We would encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses hate crime to report it to police.”

Victims of hate crime can report directly to the Force on 101 (always call 999 in an emergency) or to third party reporting centres, where victims can remain anonymous if they wish. Find out more on how to report here:  here: How to report hate crime | Cleveland Police

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.