Local Bay police officers recently joined with local councillors and members of the community to launch National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which ran from October 14 to 21, at Sandown’s Broadway Centre.

The campaign’s objective is to encourage authorities, key partners, business and voluntary sector agencies, and communities that may be affected by hate crime to work together to tackle local hate crime issues, with the Broadway a reporting location.

Sandown’s Mayor, Cllr Alex Lightfoot said: “The town council has witnessed first hand, threatening and abusive behaviour, and is fully supportive of this partnership approach to addressing this issue.”

Police community support officers Webb and May added, who organised the launch added: “Only by working together, and sharing resources, knowledge and experience, can we continue the fight against hate crime at all levels.”

The plan is to promote HOPE which stands for raising Hate crime awareness, improving Operational responses, Preventing hate crime, and enabling community Engagement.

The launch also included representatives from the Townswomen’s Guild, local church and line-dancers.