Ahead of National Hate Crime Awareness Week (Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 October 2025), the Council is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring everyone feels safe, respected and able to thrive in Westmorland and Furness.
The Council is calling on residents to stand together to challenge prejudice and support those affected by hate crime or incidents by reporting them.
As defined by the Crown Prosecution Service, a Hate Crime is a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability, race or perceived race, religion or perceived religion, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity.
Every person living, working, studying in or visiting the area has the right to feel safe and respected and hate crimes and incidents harm people’s wellbeing and undermine community togetherness.
Not all hate incidents and crimes are acts of violence or aggression. Caroline Howsley, the Chief Executive of the Cumbria Deaf Association, has experienced first-hand the impact of what some people might see as a “joke” about someone having a hearing impairment. “Picking out my disability and choosing to make mockery of it just builds up, and it reduces your confidence to go out in the world, to interact with other people, and it increases mental health conditions such as depression.”
Westmorland and Furness Council is continuing to challenge and respond to all forms of hate-based behaviour and support victims and witnesses that come forward. They also work closely with Cumbria Police, local organisations and community representatives to prevent incidents, bring perpetrators to account and support victims of hate crimes.
Through joint working, authorities have created a safe space where people can report hate crimes and incidents, whether they are the victim or a witness.
If a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergencies, reports can be made to Cumbria Constabulary by calling 101 or by using the True Vision online reporting form.
If you are a victim of a hate crime or incident you can also report this to council teams, including housing, adult social care or customer services. All reports are treated in strict confidence.
Together, Councillor Helen Chaffey, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communication, and Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said:
“Hate crime can have devastating effects, and we are here to stand with victims, their families, and loved ones.
“Westmorland and Furness is proud to be a caring and inclusive council. Our values are built on ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive, whatever their background or identity.
“We believe in a person’s right to express their views, but we are equally clear that hate in any form, whether based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic, has no place in our communities.
“We want Westmorland and Furness to be a place where everyone feels welcome, where differences are discussed with respect, and where communities remain strong, safe, and free from hate and discrimination.
“If you are victim of a hate crime or see someone in your community being targeted by hate or harmful behaviour, please speak up. You can report incidents to Cumbria Police and access support through our community partners.
“At the same time, we remain committed to celebrating the diversity of our communities, recognising the things that make us different and the values that unite us.”
Superintendent Annette McClement, Cumbria Constabulary’s force lead for Hate Crime, said:
“Being targeted for your sexuality, religion, race, gender or disability will not be tolerated in Cumbria and I would urge anyone who has been a victim or witnessed a Hate Crime, to report this to Cumbria Police.
“We recognise that reporting incidents to place may feel daunting in what is already a distressing time.
“When you make a report to us, you will be contacted by an officer and support will be provided.
“We take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously and know that this type of crime often goes unreported which is why it is important, in weeks such as Hate Crime Awareness Week, to speak about the issue and encourage reporting so that we can take action against those committing this type of crime.”
A new resource, launched by the Anchor Bay Network, details how people can report a hate crime. The collaborative group of organisations share a common interest of working together to enable sustainable, prosperous, and healthy communities.
Lee McDermott, Deputy Chair of the Anchor Anti-racism Group, said:
“The Anchor Anti-Racism Group have developed a Hate Crime Reporting Flowchart to support our community in terms of reporting to the Police. The group acknowledge the full spectrum that Hate Crime covers and applied a focus to developing a reporting flowchart following data-informed discussions, noting race-related hate crimes are spiking across our region. Hate Crime and incidents are unacceptable in our community and should not be tolerated in any capacity. As a collective, we will continue with our endeavours to create and support positive change.
"By taking action and reporting, you may be able to prevent this from happening to someone else. You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime and hate incidents in your local area so they can better respond to it. We share a collective responsibility to support one another, and reporting makes a difference, to you, your friends and your community."
Watch an interview Caroline Howsley, the Chief Executive of the Cumbria Deaf Association, who has experienced first-hand the impact of what some people might see as a “joke” about someone having a hearing impairment.