HATE crime victims from Basingstoke can now report their experience at a Basingstoke college, which has become a Third Party Reporting Centre (TPRC).

TPRCs support victims to report experiences of hate crime without having to contact the police directly, allowing victims to report anonymously; provide as much detail as they feel comfortable; choose where, when and how they wish to be contacted; and decide whether to give their personal details to the police.

Officers from the Education Partnership Unit hosted a Hate Crime Awareness event at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke mark it becoming a TPRC.

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(Image: Hampshire Constabulary) PC Steph Wheeler and PC Liam Davies visited the college on Monday, October 14 and spoke with the students about the support they can receive.

Witnesses and third parties can report through TPRCs, and reporting can be done using the online form or a physical form.

Staff at Queen Mary’s College received police training and the college has now officially become a TPRC.

It is the first time a college in Basingstoke has become a TPRC and it is now the fourth one in the district. The one at QMC is for the use of college students only.

Basingstoke Town Inspector Charlie Ilderton said: “It is widely known that hate crimes are significantly under-reported and that there are many barriers to why victims may not wish to report directly to the police.

“TPRCs overcome some of these barriers and provide people with an alternative means of reporting hate crime in a manner lead by the victim.

“We hope the introduction of this centre will give people the confidence to report any hate crime they have experienced, or have witnessed, to help us tackle these types of issues in our communities.”

Queen Mary’s College principal Mark Henderson said: “It makes me feel very proud of everybody at Queen Mary’s College. Finding ways to overcome the barriers to reporting hate crime can be life changing and in some cases lifesaving.”

A hate crime is any criminal offence perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice to the person's race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability - someone may have a hidden disability and still be targeted.

A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which hostility is targeted. If you are a victim, or have witnessed a crime motivated by hate, report it via 101 or at True Vision report-it.org.uk/home or via Third Party Reporting Centres.

To find where your nearest TPRC is, visit hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Third-Party-Reporting-Centres-October-2019.pdf. 

If you are interested in joining the local Basingstoke Hate Crime Awareness Group, please contact BHCAG@bvaction.org.uk.