Middlesbrough Reducing Hate Crime Case Group is a multi agency forum currently chaired by the Crown Prosecution Services, which meets on monthly basis to discuss hate crime cases reported to Cleveland Police, community based reporting centres, partner organisation and online via this website.The Case Group is administered by the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership and has membership from Cleveland Police, Middlesbrough Council, Crown Prosecution Service, Victim Support, BME Network, Fabrick Housing Group, North of England Refugee Service, Middlesbrough Community Network (LGBT), Endeavour Housing Association and MESMAC Teesside.

The group aims to provide support to victims of hate incidents & crimes in a coordinated manner, utilising the multiagency platform to tackle hate crime holistically. The case group tracks and monitors the hate crime incidents as they progress through the criminal justice system ensuring that all victims of racial and homophobic incidents are given adequate levels of support.The individual partners within the group work proactively to prevent repeat victimisation and reduce the fear of crime and harassment.  On occasions victims of hate crime may not wish to report incidents directly to the police so the group has provided alternative-reporting processes through third parties so the police and local authority are fully informed of the level of incidents, which will enable rapid action to be taken to reduce the potential for repeats.

Working within the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership Framework the group and individuals partners aim:

• To develop and implement a strategy which prevents racist and religious crime, racial discrimination and harassment.

• Build trust in communities, thereby improving confidence in the police, partner agencies and criminal justice system.

• Empower BME & other minority communities to access sensitive and specific local self-help.

• Share relevant, necessary and proportionate information with partner agencies, regarding hate incidents. This must be treated in confidence and with regard to the policies of the agency providing the data.

• Arrange crime prevention advice to members of the BME & other minority communities

• Consult with relevant communities and agencies.

• To develop education initiatives to reduce hate crime, harassment and bullying.

• Examine/learn from wide and diverse initiatives in other areas to develop Middlesbrough specific initiatives.

• Give commitment to the group on behalf of the agency that they represent.