Help and support for residents Tower Hamlets third party reporting project brings together the council and key organisations to help victims and witnesses have confidence to report hate crime and domestic violence. see below Reporting centres open Victims and witnesses can report incidents at 13 locations other than police stations in the borough. News Better support for victims of abuse and hate crimes Other speakers included the council’s domestic violence, hate crime and victim support teams, third party reporting centre staff and Detective Constable Lee Hawkins of the Tower Hamlets police community safety unit. Andy Bamber, head of community safety at the council, said: “We hope we can increase reports of hate crime, reaffirming the council's commitment to protect victims and take enforcement action against perpetrators. “We hope the reintroduction of these centres will raise awareness of hate crime and domestic abuse while increasing public confidence to report crimes. “This forms an integral part of the council’s Community Safety Partnership Plan – a vision to make the borough a safe place to live, work and visit.” BY STEFAN SWIFT THIRTEEN centres where crimes can be reported without the need to go to a police station have signed a protocol agreeing to support victims of hate crime or domestic violence. The importance of third party reporting centres was highlighted by a series of speakers at a conference last month. Based in community locations, the reporting centres were established in London following a recommendation made by Lord MacPherson in his inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence. It was hoped that by using independent locations, the number of hate crime and domestic abuse incidents that were reported would increase, and the council could support and empower victims while preventing perpetrators from carrying out similar attacks in future. There are 13 community locations in Tower Hamlets where these centres will operate, including in the council’s four One Stop Shops. Speakers at the conference included the Rev Alan Green, in his role as chair of Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate forum and interfaith forums, who spoke about tackling hate crime in the borough. Detective Superintendent Wendy Morgan from the Met Police talked about policing hate crime in Tower Hamlets while Debbie Goodier – the hate crime policy lead at the Home Office – spoke about the background and national context to third party reporting centres. Above: the signatories who are behind the third party reporting centres. Below: DS Wendy Morgan signs the protocol Tues & Weds, 10am-8pm; Mon, Thurs & Fri, 10am-9pm. Wheelchair accessible. ■ Dellow Centre 82 Wentworth Street, E1. 7375 0020 Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. ■ London Muslim Centre & the Maryam Centre 46 Whitechapel Road, E1. 7650 3000 Mon-Sun, 10am-9pm. Language provision: Arabic, Bengali, Urdu and Somali. Wheelchair accessible. ■ Positive East – Stepney 159 Mile End Road, E1. 7791 2855 Mon-Fri, 9.30am-6.30pm. All languages available via Language Line. Wheelchair accessible. ■ Real Jack Dash House, 2 Lawn House Close, E14. 7001 2177 Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm. Email real.answers@real.org.uk www.real.org.uk Translation available on request. Blue Badge parking bays, wheelchair accessible, disabled toilets, British Sign Language on request. ■ Step Forward (Tower Hamlets) 234 Bethnal Green Road, E2. 7739 3082 Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm. Language provision: Bengali. Wheelchair accessible. ■ Tower Hamlets Victim Support Shadwell Centre, 455 The Highway, E1W. 7364 7957 Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm. Access to Language Line. Can provide home visits where required. ■ Targeted Youth Support (formerly Newstart & Connexions) St Mary’s Church Hall, Kitkat Terrace. 7364 5834/1956 Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm. Language provision: English, Bengali, Somali. Wheelchair accessible. Reporting centres THE third party reporting centres now operating in Tower Hamlets are: ■ One Stop Shops Open: Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm (except last Weds of every month, 10am-4.30pm); Sat, 9am-12.30pm (Bethnal Green and Stepney & Wapping only). Interpreting s e r v i c e s ava i l a b l e o n r e q u e s t . Wheelchair accessible. Bethnal Green 1 Rushmead, E2. 7364 5020 Bow & North Poplar John Onslow House, 1 Ewart Place, E3. 7364 5020 South Poplar 15 Market Square, Chrisp Street, E14. 7364 5020 Stepney &Wapping Idea Store, Watney Market, 260 Commercial Road, E1. 7364 5020 ■ A g e U K – Appian Court Resource Centre 87 Parnell Road, E3. 8981 7124 Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm. Wheelchair accessible. ■ City Gateway Limehouse Youth Club Limehouse Causeway. 7531 6199 Debbie Goodier from the Home Office speaks 12 NEWS FROM TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 13 – 19 APRIL 2015
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