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Cleveland Police has launched a new Hate Crime Charter, developed in partnership with the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), to reinforce the message that no one should live or work in fear of hate crime.
Unveiled during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, the charter outlines the force’s commitment to victims of hate crime, focusing on three key principles: defining what constitutes a hate crime, explaining how to report incidents, and detailing what victims can expect after making a report. It aims to ensure all reports are taken seriously while improving public confidence in the police response.
Informed by consultations with local community groups representing people across protected characteristics — including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability — the charter seeks to give victims clarity and reassurance throughout the reporting and investigation process. By providing accessible information and outlining available support, it is hoped that more victims will feel confident to come forward.
Superintendent Emily Harrison, Cleveland Police’s lead on hate crime, emphasised that the charter reflects the force’s zero-tolerance approach. “Nobody should be subjected to threatening or abusive behaviour because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability,” she said. “Any form of hate crime is completely unacceptable and simply will not be tolerated.”
Harrison noted that while Cleveland experienced an unprecedented rise in hate crime during the disorder in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool in August 2024, incidents outside that period have remained steady, with recent figures showing a 13.2% overall reduction in hate crime and a 24.9% drop in victim-based offences. She added that ongoing community engagement remains crucial to ensuring victims feel able to report such crimes and trust police to act decisively.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, who chairs the Cleveland Strategic Hate Crime Partnership, said the charter represents an important step in listening to victims and strengthening public trust. “It is vital that we aren’t just broadcasting, but allowing people to have their voice and their concerns heard,” he said. “Communities want reassurance that reports will be taken seriously, and this charter clearly sets out Cleveland Police’s commitment to achieving that.”
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