A new initiative where people can report hate crimes through community volunteers has launched in the Towns.

The new hate crime reporting hubs will allow people to report hate crimes through trained volunteers in a confidential environment within the community without having to talk to the police first.

Police say hate crimes can be in many forms and target a person’s race, religion faith, sexual orientation, disability or gender.

The forces’ Medway community liaison officer Bob Mahay and Medway’s independent police advisory group chairman, Sue Groves MBE have worked together to form the new hubs with volunteers from local organisations.

Volunteers were given specialist training through the Jigsaw Project, which is a scheme previously funded by the Crime Commissioner, to raise awareness of disability hate crime against people with autism and learning disabilities in Kent and Medway by offering training and delivering workshops.

Various community groups have signed up to be a part of the new hate crime reporting hubs and these include, the Ahmadiyya Nazir Mosque in Gillingham Road; Age UK in Woodlands Road, Gillingham; Kent Muslim Welfare Association in Canterbury Street, which is also in the town.

People can also report such crimes to the Nucleus Arts Cafés in Chatham High Street and Rochester High Street and the Aztec Day Services building in Medway City Estate, Strood and the Royal Mencap Society, at Moore Skills Centre, in Medway Street, which is also Chatham.

People wishing to report hate crimes will be able to do so by visiting these hubs, either in person or via the telephone.

Insp Rachel Harris of Medway’s community safety unit said: “While we would like everyone in the community to feel able to report hate crimes directly to us we do understand there are people who do not feel comfortable talking to the police directly.

"This new initiative will give those people the confidence to report these incidents knowing that they will be passed on and investigated fully.

“The volunteers within these new hubs have specialist skills and knowledge and will be able to act as a connection between communities and the police so I fully welcome this new initiative.

“I would encourage anyone who wishes to discuss hate crimes to have the confidence to report these incidents either by contacting us directly or using one of our new reporting hubs.”

For more information on hate crimes, click here.