Today marks the start of Hate Crime Awareness Week.  This is a significant week that Prejudice Free Dorset supports every year, because it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of what hate crime is and to encourage victims to come forward.

Prejudice Free Dorset (PFD) is a partnership organisation made up of local agencies that seeks to promote inclusive communities across Dorset. The organisation works together to challenge prejudice in Dorset so that all individuals can go about their daily lives safely and with confidence.

By working together, Prejudice Free Dorset provides information and education to the public and other organisations, on hate crime and hate incidents.

We are working to build the confidence of all communities to come forward and report hate incidents and crimes. We are here to provide support and advice where it’s needed.

The theme for the Hate Crime Awareness Week 2022 is “We stand together against racism in the UK”.

One of the main partners of Prejudice Free Dorset is Dorset Race Equality Council (DREC). They are an independent charity set up to specifically tackle racism, or any form of ethnic or cultural hatred.

DREC look to inform, educate and support victims regarding race/ethnic relations.

This includes:

- eliminate and counter misunderstanding and negative political propaganda

- raise awareness of race/ethnic equality issues with both public sector organisations and private businesses

- challenge prejudice and disadvantage and promote the importance of a diverse society

- inform minority ethnic individuals of their rights

- strengthen community relations in Dorset

- work with partner organisations to influence policy and combat racial discrimination and racial violence to uphold both the letter and the spirit of EU and UK law.

Published: 8th October 2022