A new and progressive service that supports the victims of hate crime will have an ongoing presence at Wolves home games, after its launch at this weekend’s match against Manchester United.
Remedi’s hate crime victim service will be providing on-the-spot initial support to victims and witnesses of all hate crimes and hate incidents that happen at Molineux on a matchday.
A hate crime is an offence where the perpetrator is motivated by hostility towards the victim’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Remedi’s team will be located on the ground at home games with the West Midlands Police, and will accompany them to any incident of hate crime.
The police and Remedi will locate the victim and to one side, Remedi will check in with the victim and provide immediate emotional support while the police deal with the incident itself.
If the victim would like, Remedi will then take the victim’s details to get in touch with them the next working day to see if any long-term support is needed, either emotional or practical.
Offences do not have to be reported to the police for support to take place, with Remedi able to support unreported cases of hate crime and hate incidents, via victim self-referral.
Self-referrals can be made by contacting Remedi via email on hatecrimevictimservice@remediuk.org or calling or WhatsApping their freephone number 0800 488 0894.
Head of operations at Wolves, Steve Sutton, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Remedi and West Midlands Police to implement their new, exciting and innovative service.
“We are very proud of the work we do to combat all forms of discrimination and the introduction of this service adds a new layer that we are sure will be of invaluable assistance to supporters.”
The Remedi hate crime victim service is named after the registered charity Remedi, that was awarded funding by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victims’ Fund, to provide better support for the victims of hate crime in the West Midlands.
The new service was launched by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner following a 41% rise in hate incidents in 2020/21, and Molineux becomes the first football stadium in the country to benefit from the service.
The West Midlands victims’ commissioner, Nicky Brennan added: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to put this service in place to support victims of hate crime in the region. It’s an issue that the police and the club take incredibly seriously and having Remedi on hand to provide that support is excellent.
“It’s great that this is something we’ve been able to work with Wolves on to be the first football ground in the country to have this support available. Hopefully others will follow suit.”
Superintendent Sallie Churchill, from West Midlands Police, said: “We never underestimate the impact of unacceptable discrimination and we want victims to know that support is available to them.
“We want to reach out to as many people as possible and ensure they feel able, and comfortable, in speaking out.
“Through doing so we can help them and also seek to prosecute those responsible for such disgusting behaviour.”
Remedi’s Michelle Bailey, manager for hate crime work for the West Midlands, said: “Remedi are very proud to be supporting victims of hate crime across the West Midlands and we are also very pleased to be providing additional support to both the crowd, staff and the footballers who may be affected by hate crime within football at the Wolves versus Manchester United game this weekend.
“Being part of combating hate crime is extremely important to us and we want those affected to know we are there for them both during and after the game.
“This initiative is a really positive step forward and all football cubs should embrace this approach.”
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