Wakefield Council urges residents to report hate crime
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Wakefield Council is supporting National Hate Crime Awareness Week (11 – 18 October).
“No one should ever be subjected to abuse or attacks. Hate crime is an offence. And we won’t tolerate it here in Wakefield. Not just in Awareness Week, but at any time. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and valued.
“I urge anyone who has experienced or witnessed hate crime to report it. It’s easy and, even if you think an incident may not be serious, it could prevent it from escalating. Help make our communities safer and more inclusive.”
Cllr Daniel Wilton
Cabinet Member for Communities
Hate crime and hate incidents can take many forms but are defined as being motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person because of their race or ethnicity, religion or beliefs, disability, transgender identity or sexual orientation.
They can include bullying or taunting, verbal or online abuse, offensive letters or a physical assault. It could be the dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, or damage to property, such as graffiti or arson. And it includes the threat of an attack, intimidation, and inciting hatred amongst others.
Throughout October, teams will be out in the district speaking to groups and residents about hate crime and how to report it:
- Thursday 16 October 6pm – 7pm Hate Crime Input for Police Cadets, Havertop Police Station, WF6 1FD
- Wednesday 29 October 3.30pm – 6pm Hate Crime Awareness Stand for LGBTQIA+ People, Dungeons and Donuts, WF1 1UD
- Thursday 30 October 1pm – 4pm Hate Crime Awareness Stand for Attendees of Quaker House, Quaker House, WF1 1NE
This work follows an educational campaign, Pugney the Pal, run by the Council to engage with children about hate crime. The messaging makes it clear there’s no place for hate in our district and teaches our children that it is completely unacceptable.
Over the past year, Wakefield Council has run 19 separate events at schools, colleges, Pinderfields Hospital, hotels and shopping centres. The team also attended community events such as Armed Forces Day, to help educate residents on how we can tackle hate crime across the district.
Cllr Wilton added: “If you have experienced hate crime, it’s important that you report it. You should also receive victim support. There are services ready to listen, offer emotional and practical help, and guide you toward legal advice or further assistance.”
Anyone can report a crime directly to West Yorkshire Police, via their headquarters in Normanton or online https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/form/report-hate-crime.
Wakefield Council remains committed to ensuring that victims and witnesses can easily report a hate crime or hate incident, anonymously if preferred. And there are numerous ways to do this: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/our-people-and-communities/safer-wakefield/hate-crime.
There are 26 hate crime reporting centres across the district, both in town centres and communities. Details of these, including their location, opening times and contact details are available at: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/our-people-and-communities/safer-wakefield/hate-crime