Support services

Report it, we can help:

Tower Hamlets 24 hour freephone Hate Crime reporting line: 0800 138 0521.

• Tower Hamlets Police Community Safety Unit
• Tower Hamlets Victim Support Scheme
• Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum 
• Age Concern
• Positive East – Stepney
• Disability Information Training Opportunities (DITO)

Tower Hamlets Police Community Safety Unit

The Police Community Safety Unit investigates hate crimes within Tower Hamlets. This includes racist crime, domestic violence, homophobic crime and hate mail. The unit is committed to giving all victims of crime a professional and sensitive service. The unit is staffed by both male and female officers who are specially trained to deal with these crimes.

In an emergency you must dial 999 or attend your local Police Station.

For further information please call 020 7275 4757.

To report new incidents, please call 999.

Address: Limehouse Police Station, 29 West India Dock Road, London E14 8EZ.

Tower Hamlets Victim Support Scheme

Tower Hamlets Victim Support Scheme is an independent charity which offers free and confidential emotional and practical support to victims of crime.  Based in Durning Hall, Earlham Grove, Forest Hill, London E7 9AB  the office is open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

The scheme has dedicated staff who are specially trained to work with victims of hate crime and domestic violence.  Referrals can be made over the phone or through fax by any agency or the victim themselves and the crime does not have to be reported in order for the service to be offered.

Case workers will ensure the support needs of the victims are met, through themselves or through referrals to other specialist services.  We are a non-directive and non-judgemental service, committed to equal opportunities.  By exploring options available we hope to empower victims with the information necessary to make the right decisions.

To make a referral call 020 8555 8254 or fax 020 8522 1757

or 0845 3030 900 for Out of Hours Service Monday-Friday 9am - 9pm, 9am - 7pm at weekends or 9am - 5pm on Bank Holidays.

Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum

Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum brings key agencies together to work in partnership to make Tower Hamlets a better place to live, work and visit by developing and promoting a co-ordinated response to race and hate crime that protects and supports victims, deters perpetrators, challenges prejudice and hate, and contributes to creating a safer, more cohesive community.

The forum meets on a quarterly basis and consists of both statutory and voluntary organisations all of whom represent specific areas or communities concerning hate crime. 

The purpose of the Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum is to:

• Provide a forum for agencies to share information, best practice and keep open communication about hate crime issues.
• Monitor and analyse data on reported hate crime and incidents in the borough.
• Focus on turning policy into action – measuring outcomes and performance.
• Build the capacity of local statutory and voluntary organisations to deliver services and provide support to individual victims and communities.
• Encourage agencies to raise and share local issues affecting residents, employers, employees and visitors in Tower Hamlets.
• Act as a hub for activity on race and hate crime issues – recognised for consultation and support.
• Give feedback on hate crime issues to the Tower Hamlets Partnership via the Council’s Living Safely Community Plan Action Group.

The forum has an agreed annual action plan of projects and initiatives in place that contributes to the borough’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy. Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum is a sub-group of the Living Safely Community Plan Action Group.

If you are interested in finding out more or becoming a member of the Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Forum, please contact Nazma Begum on 020 7364 6120.

Age Concern

Age Concern Tower Hamlets can provide advice, information and befriending services for older people. They provide various other services including day care centres, carers relief project, older peoples resources centre, volunteering service and more.

For more information, please call 020 8981 7124.

Positive East – Stepney

Positive East provides a comprehensive range of advice and services to improve the physical, economical and psychological quality of the life for individuals and communities living with HIV in East London.

Some of the services include full information, advice, casework and representation services (including at court and social security benefit tribunal).

For more information, please call 020 7791 2855.

Disability Information Training Opportunities (DITO)

DITO provide information and training to people in Tower Hamlets with disabilities. This includes advice and guidance. DITO are also a Third Party Reporting site. 

For more information, please call 020 7364 6564.

• For a more comprehensive list of services, please contact the Hate Crime and Domestic Violence Team  on 020 7364 6188.