It’s Hate Crime Awareness Week, and we’re proud to stand with our partners and communities across Liverpool to say loud and clear,there’s no place for hate in our communities.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and part of their community, both in and around their home. A hate crime or hate incident happens when someone is targeted because of who they are, or who someone thinks they are. This can include prejudice or discrimination linked to race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or transgender identity.
If someone commits a criminal act motivated by hate, it’s a hate crime. If the behaviour isn’t criminal but still motivated by hate (such as spreading hostility or isolating a neighbour), it’s a hate incident. Both are seriousand we will investigate any report we receive.
If you experience or witness a hate crime or hate incident, please report it. Even if you’re unsure, tell us; we’re here to help.
You can call us on 0330 303 2222 Or you can report it online:
You can also contact Merseyside Police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency), or reach out to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625.
Reports can be made confidentially and if you prefer, you can remain anonymous.
When you report a hate crime to Cobalt, we’ll contact you to gather more information and agree on an action plan together. Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence, and we will never share your details.
Depending on your situation, we may connect you with our partners who can provide additional support. We work closely with Stop Hate UK, The Anthony Walker Foundation, Merseyside Polonia and Daisy UK, who offer dedicated support and advice for victims.
We also work closely with Liverpool’s Hate Crime Joint Action Group, chaired by Merseyside Police, which brings together housing associations and key partners. This includes Liverpool City Council, NHS Mental Health practitioners, the Courts Probation Service and organisations such as The Anthony Walker Foundation and Stop Hate UK. Together, we ensure that victims receive the right support and that those responsible are held accountable.
Our team can provide practical measures to help you feel safe in your home. If you’ve reported an incident to us, we will work with you to ensure you’re safe. We may increase the security of your home, which can include a video doorbell, security lighting or window alarms, and help you connect with local community groups to help rebuild your confidence and connections. We will also work with other agencies to provide reassurance in our communities. If a perpetrator of a hate crime or antisocial behaviour is one of our customers, we will take firm action. This can include warnings, court orders or, in the most serious cases, eviction.
As part of our ongoing community inclusion work, our Antisocial Behaviour Engagement Team is visiting local primary schools across our neighbourhoods during Hate Crime Awareness Week to deliver workshops for Year 6 pupils. These will focus on tackling stereotypes and celebrating inclusion, helping to educate the next generation about respect and equality.
Workshops like these take place throughout the year, reaching schools across our communities to keep the conversation about kindness and inclusion alive.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe where they live. We take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and work closely with partners to make sure victims are supported and perpetrators are held to account. It starts with reporting. If you tell us, we can help.”
— Kate Toutountzi, ASB Community Engagement Lead
We take hate crime, and all reports of antisocial behaviour incidents seriously, and have seen encouraging progress. Our most recent Tenant Satisfaction Measures show that hate crime incidents across our communities reduced from 2.3 to 0.9 cases per 1,000 homes in the past year.
We can only act when we are aware – if you see or experience something, please let us know. Every report helps make our communities safer for everyone.
