This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week (12 – 19 October) and the council has been doing lots to help tackle hate crime in the borough.

Kingston Council says that it "is committed to work with partner organisations to keep Kingston a safe borough to live, work, study and visit where hate crime is not tolerated", so for the past week, the council and other local authorities have been working to tackle hate crime in the borough.

For example, yesterday, Thursday 17 October, Kingston Police held a Hate Crime Awareness stall at Kingston Train Station to raise awareness and inform residents about hate crime.

Moreover, in a statement produced by the council, Councillor Afy Afilaka, Portfolio Holder for Commissioning, Customer Contact and Equalities, emphasised the council's commitment to making Kingston a safer borough for all.

The statement read: "As we mark this year's National Hate Crime Awareness Week (12-19 October), I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm Kingston's commitment to being a safe and supportive borough for all, where we challenge discrimination in all its forms. 

"Kingston is one of the safest boroughs in London and we are committed to working with partners to make it even safer for all communities.

"We recognise that our whole community has a part to play in ensuring hate crime is not tolerated. 

"Kingston is a place where difference and diversity is celebrated and valued, and we are extremely proud of the richness this brings to life across the borough.

"Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Inclusive Kingston highlights how we will champion diverse communities and learn from each other as we strive for an even fairer, even safer borough.

"It also sets out how we work with partners and communities to understand and monitor hate crime and support those affected. 

"We work with partners such as Kingston Race and Equalities Council (KREC) and the Anti Hate Crime Action Group to tackle discrimination and hate crime and to promote equality of opportunity and strong and positive community relations. 

"This year Kingston Council and the Anti-Hate Crime Action Group have developed a community pledge which aims to send a clear message that hate will not be tolerated in our borough. We all have a role to play in tackling hate and discrimination, you can learn more and sign up for the pledge here.

"Kingston is also a place that welcomes everyone. We pride ourselves on providing sanctuary to refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable families and are committed to welcoming and including them in the life of the borough.

"That's why we are working towards becoming a 'Borough of Sanctuary', through the national charity 'City of Sanctuary'.

"So, this Hate Crime Awareness Week, please join me reaffirming your commitment to actively working together to challenge all forms of hate by signing our community pledge."

A hate incident is any incident where the victim or someone else believes is motivated by hate, hostility, or prejudice. This can be because of a person's characteristics or a characteristic they are believed to have. If a hate incident breaks the law, then it is a hate crime.

There are 5 types of hate crimes which are monitored nationally. These are crimes which are believed to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's real or perceived:

• Race or ethnicity
• Religion or beliefs
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• Transgender identity

The police also monitor hate crimes based on other characteristics like age, gender and appearance.

Hate crimes can manifest in different ways and can be grouped under 3 categories:

1. Physical assault: physical assault of any kind is an offence. An assault is when someone physically attacks you or threatens to attack you.
2. Verbal abuse: verbal abuse, threats or name-calling can be common forms of hate crime.
3. Incitement to hatred: when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hatred. That could be in words, pictures, videos, music and includes information posted on websites. Hate content may include:

Messages calling for violence against a specific person or group.

• Web pages that show pictures, videos or descriptions of violence against anyone due to their perceived differences.
• Chat forums where people ask other people to commit hate crimes against a specific person or group.