Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is strengthening her commitment to tackling hate crime with the launch of a new Hate Crime External Advisory Panel (HCEAP),and is inviting applications from members of the public to take part.
As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, The PCC is putting a call out for people with links to, knowledge of, or lived experience within diverse communities to join the panel. Members will play an important role in helping to shape the service Northumbria Police provides, while supporting efforts to build trust and confidence across communities.
The panel will meet quarterly to review a sample of hate crime cases, providing constructive feedback, identifying opportunities for learning, and helping to drive continuous improvement in how hate crimes are approached.
The initiative forms part of the PCC’s flagship Hate Crime Programme, which aims to make communities active partners in tackling hate crime by listening to lived experiences and strengthening public involvement in scrutiny and oversight. The new panel joins a range of existing forums, including the Police Powers External Advisory Panel and the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said:
“We value insight, lived experience and a willingness to contribute positively to discussions. No specialist knowledge is required, just a commitment to helping drive positive change by acting as a critical friend, offering challenge and advice where needed.
“This is an important opportunity to help improve how we respond to hate crime, which can have a significant and lasting impact on victims, their families and wider communities. I hope we can bring together people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities, particularly those who may be disproportionately affected by hate crime, to help shape this work.”
For more information about the Hate Crime External Advisory Panel and how to apply, click here.
