Archived press release

Date Published: 29/11/07

Aylesbury Vale District Council has become a reporting centre for hate crime within the district. Victims of hate crime, who do not feel comfortable going to the police, can now report incidents to the council’s customer service advisors, w...

Aylesbury Vale District Council has become a reporting centre for hate crime within the district.

Victims of hate crime, who do not feel comfortable going to the police, can now report incidents to the council’s customer service advisors, who will then pass on the information confidentially.

The new arrangement will increase the number of sites across Aylesbury Vale where residents can, in confidence, report incidents of hate crime to trained staff.

Hate incidents could be physical, verbal or written abuse. They take many forms but are essentially about someone being targeted because they are believed to be different, because of age, disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Members of the public can report such incidents at the following sites in Aylesbury Vale:
• AVDC’s Customer Service Centre, 66 High Street, Aylesbury
• The Buckingham Centre, Verney Close, Buckingham
• AVDC’s Winslow Area Office, 28 High Street, Winslow
• Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, 69 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury
• Aylesbury Vale Race Equality Council, Old County Hall, Aylesbury
• Aylesbury Police Station, Wendover Road, Aylesbury

Councillor Pam Pearce, AVDC Cabinet Member for Community Matters, said: “We are encouraging residents to report hate crime, especially those who are too afraid or unable to go to the police directly themselves, by offering another way of getting their complaint heard and acted on. With the permission of those reporting an incident of hate crime, information is passed to the police for investigation along with other agencies who may be able to offer support and guidance in what can often be a very frightening and upsetting time. We hope all victims will report offences against them, and local communities play their part by providing information, so that we are able to make a real impact on the problem. There is no excuse for this kind of behaviour in our society today.”

Acting Superintendent Dick Auger, Local Police Area Commander for Aylesbury Vale, said: “As a police officer and member of society I find hate crime one of the most abhorrent behaviours we face. Those who perpetrate such crime gnaw away at the very fabric of our communities in an attempt to divide, isolate and victimise people who are different. This situation will not be tolerated. We ask all those who are affected by these crimes to report them to us, either personally or via a third party, so that we can do are very best in detecting them and identifying and prosecuting the bigots within our community.” 

For further information on hate crime reporting centres in Aylesbury Vale, please contact AVDC’s community safety team on 01296 585005 or email kgalvin@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk