Strengthening hate crime support following customer focus groups

We are strengthening our approach to tackling hate crime after valuable insights were gathered during a focus group held in November. 

10 customers took part in the group sharing their experiences, expectations and ideas for improving how hate crime is understood, reported and responded to across our communities. 

The group’s feedback has helped shape our new policy and an action plan for 2026, where we commit to clearer communication, better reporting options and increased support for victims across south Liverpool. 

Improving hate crime reporting 

A key part of this work involves dispelling common myths around hate crime reporting and ensuring residents understand how to report incidents confidentially and safely. We have made it easier to report hate crime on our website by moving the reporting form higher up on the page, improving the search function and adding more reassurance around confidentiality and anonymous reporting. 

We are also working with other partners so that people can report hate crime to independent organisations. This will help victims who may feel more comfortable speaking to someone other than ourselves, or the police 

Strengthening support for victims 

Support for victims is being strengthened through a dedicated contact person at SLH for all hate crime enquiries, so residents know exactly who to contact and what support to expect. We are also improving access to specialist support services such as Mind Connect, which offers 1-2-1 support through funding we provide. 

Working with local schools and youth groups 

We are prioritising engagement with children and young people, delivering awareness sessions in schools and youth groups to promote respect and understanding from an early age. 

Showcasing real-life case studies 

To keep building trust and show that our work is making a difference, we will share anonymised stories of real cases to demonstrate how concerns are taken seriously, how partners are involved, and how victims are supported. We hope that this will help build trust and reassurance that reporting leads to action. 

Through these initiatives, we are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that all residents feel safe, respected and empowered to speak out against hate crime. 

We’d like to thank everyone who came along to the groups for their time and insightful discussions. They have provided a strong foundation for strengthening our response to hate crime across our communities and helping us to refresh our policies and procedures. 

For more information about hate crime and how to report it in confidence, visit our webpage.  

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