New Hate Crime reporting centres launched across Warwickshire

Over thirty new Hate Crime Reporting points have been rolled out across Warwickshire as part of a project developed by equality charity EQuIP in partnership with Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

The third-party reporting centres are designed to support victims in confidentially reporting a hate crime or hate incident, without speaking directly to the police. A history of distrust among minority communities including LGBTQ+ people and those from the Global Majority means hate crimes often go unreported, and EQuIP (Equality & Inclusion Partnership) hope to tackle this by creating safer spaces for reporting and accessing support. 

The charity reported that it received 640 hate crime reports in the first five months of 2026, with 66% relating to race hate. The new hate crime reporting hubs are housed in various community, faith and voluntary organisations across Nuneaton & Bedworth, North Warwickshire, Rugby, Warwick District, and Stratford-upon-Avon. A full list can be found on the Warwickshire Hate Crime Partnership website.

Junaid Hussain, Chief Executive of EQuIP, commented: "Too many people who experience hate still do not feel confident or comfortable reporting what has happened to them. The Hate Reporting Points bring support closer to communities, providing trusted and accessible places where people can speak to someone, be listened to and receive appropriate support with reporting hate.

"This project, amply supported by Warwickshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe and other partners in the Warwickshire Hate Crime Partnership including Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire County, District and Borough Councils, is a strong example of partnership in action. 

"By working with community, faith and voluntary organisations across Warwickshire, we are helping to remove barriers to reporting, improve our understanding of hate within our communities and send a clear message that hate has no place in Warwickshire 

"We have worked with communities across the length and breadth of Warwickshire, and we are delighted that the first 30 reporting points have undertaken training and signed up to be champions in tackling hate. "If any other communities would like to join us then please do get in touch. We must ensure that hate has no part in Warwickshire and make it easier for people to report, so that the relevant agencies can tackle this dreadful crime."