A football match, peace walk and awareness stall were just some of the ways Tower Hamlets Council marked National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Tackling hate crime is a council priority and Tower Hamlets has a multi award-winning No Place for Hate forum, campaign and team which coordinates a range of activities during National Hate Crime Awareness Week (14-21 October).
In the annual residents’ survey, 87 per cent of residents feel that people from different backgrounds get on well together in Tower Hamlets, up 10 per cent from 2022.
On Monday, the No Place for Hate Champions, who are given free training to help them tackle different forms of hate crime in their area, were given their qualification certificates at a special ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor, cllr Maium Talukdar, and Cabinet Member for community safety, cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury.
Also on Monday, our diverse community was brought together to take part in the annual peace walk organised by the East London Out Project from Altab Ali Park to Rich Mix, where there were speeches from various community leaders including Speaker of the Council, cllr Jahed Choudhury, and a workshop on tackling hate crime.
There was also a stall all week in the town hall where people can get information about how to report hate crimes and support if they are victims. People were also encouraged to sign our pledge against hate, and the winner of the pledge competition will be announced at the end of the month.
The pledge was introduced in 2008 as part of our hate crime campaign. It aims to highlight how tackling hate is everyone’s business and to promote thinking from everyone about how they can challenge their own and others’ prejudices.
So far, 5,502 personal pledges have been signed and 211 organisations, including Met Police, NHS and Canary Wharf Group.
On Thursday, the annual No Place for Hate Football Match brought together our diverse communities through sport. Despite the rain, four teams played a tournament with the winning team lifting the trophy presented by cllr Chowdhury. A total of 100 people turned out to play and support from a variety of organisations, including youth workers, partners, police, council staff, No Place for Hate champions, and cllr Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for culture and recreation.
Cllr Abu Tahla Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said:
“We are proud to be a diverse borough and do not tolerate hate of any kind.
“This week of events was a great way to celebrate this and raise awareness. I really enjoyed joining in the events and would like to thank all our residents and partners for their help in making this week so successful.
“We are aware that hate crimes is something that needs to be tackled year round and we will continue to raise awareness, tackle hate crimes and support victims in innovative ways to share everyone that there is no place for hate in Tower Hamlets.”
For further information please contact hatecrime@towerhamlets.gov.uk and please take a few minutes to complete our No Place for Hate Pledge via www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/hatecrime
Posted on Thursday 2nd November 2023