Local children from Bovey Tracey are standing up to hate crime

Primary school students in Bovey Tracey have produced some creative posters to support the police’s work to tackle hate crime across communities.

The local police team worked with the year 6 students, aged 10-11, from Bovey Tracey Academy to teach them about what hate crime is and the harmful impact it has on people. As a result, students created hand drawn posters to raise awareness about the different forms of hate crime and how to report it.

A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; transgender identity or perceived transgender identity.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Paul Wilson led the project and recently visited the school with Inspector Sean Roper to hand out certificates to all children involved. “These children are the next generation of adults - having these conversations with them early on can help shape the person they grow up to be and the way they interact with people in the future," said PCSO Wilson.

“We want to play our part in fostering a community of respect and diversity. This project has been an effective way for us to connect with students to raise awareness of hate crime and the importance of inclusivity and kindness.”

The children took part in an interactive session about hate crime, learning more about protected characteristics and what to do if they experience hate crime. Two posters were selected to be used in future hate crime awareness campaigns in the local area.

Police Constable Ruth Lee from the South Devon Diverse communities team helped select the two campaign posters: “It’s great to see how engaged the children were, it was clear they learnt a lot. As police officers, we support schools to educate around hate crime and the impact it can have on individuals and communities. It’s an opportunity for us to empower children and help them recognise the effect of their own actions and those of others."

With your help, Devon & Cornwall Police can tackle those responsible for hate crime and keep our communities safe. We're here and ready to help anyone who has been affected by someone else's prejudice, ignorance or violence. Click here for more information about hate crime and how to report it.

If you have been affected by crime, please visit Home - Victim Care Devon & Cornwall (victimcare-dc.org) to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

View Devon & Cornwall Police’s commitment to diversity and inclusion here.