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“Don’t put up with Hate incidents!” urges Citizens Advice

14 October 2010

National charity Citizens Advice is urging people to come into their local bureau and report hate incidents, and hate crimes, whether they have witnessed an incident or been a victim.

A hate incident is when someone is targeted because of their disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation. Hate incidents include verbal or physical attacks and can happen to anyone. Where the incident is a crime it can also be referred to as a hate ‘crime’.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice said: “

We all have the right to live free from violence, harassment or hostility, but over the years, we have seen cases how devastating hate incidents and discrimination can be on individuals, families and the wider community. Hate incidents target people because of who they are.

“We want people to feel able to come in and tell us about any form of discrimination whether experiencing or witnessing hate incidents, and no matter how minor they might seem. Hate incidents are a form of discrimination and can be a consequence or underlying cause of other problems that people come to us for in search of advice.”

The call comes as the charity takes part in Advice Week 2010 - a week dedicated to championing the different advice agencies around the UK, under the umbrella group, Working Together for Advice. The agencies involved in Advice Week are: Advice Service Alliance, Age UK, AdviceUK, Citizens Advice, Law Centres Federation and Youth Access.

This year, Advice Week 2010 is focusing on discrimination, and local Citizens Advice Bureaux are focusing on raising awareness about hate incidents and how to tackle them. The week will see the launch of advice podcasts and a film, showing possible ways of coping with hate incidents.  The film can be found at www.youtube.com/user/citizensadvice. The pod cast can be found at: http://advicepod.podomatic.com/rss2.xml

The launch coincides with the arrival of the Equality Act 2010, which strengthens and simplifies discrimination law.

Anonymous case study

A man with learning disabilities was subject to an online social network bullying campaign. The resident’s personal details were published and mobile phone videos of him were uploaded. Hundreds of people became members and joined the online campaign to mock and harass him.

The case was resolved by the local Citizens Advice Bureau working with the police, the social network site and other partners to identify those responsible, remove the site, support the client and take action against those responsible.

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.