David Cameron: I am personally committed to tackling all hate crime
David Cameron has said he is “personally committed” to tackling hate crime in the UK – after giving a volunteering award to an anti-hate crime campaigner.
A report released this week, which was produced for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, suggests that some 35,000 hate crimes go unreported each year in the UK.
The study was conducted by the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies, and showed that 88 percent of LGBT people had experienced some form of hate crime leaving them emotionally or physically scarred.
Just 14 percent of victims had reported the latest hate crime to police, the report found.
Conservative PM David Cameron said he is “personally committed” to tackling the issue – while honouring an activist with a ‘Point of Light’ award,
Campaigner Mark Healey, who runs the ’17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign’ this week received a Point of Light – a national daily award which recognises “outstanding individual volunteers” and “people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others”.
Mr Cameron said: “As Prime Minister I am personally committed to tackling hate crime, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. It has no place in our country and I immensely grateful to Mark for all that he has done.
“As we look forward to this year’s Pride in London – which is another cornerstone of national commitment to tackling prejudice – I am proud to recognise all that Mark has achieved. He truly is a Point of Light.”
Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan said: “Congratulations to Mark on his Point of Light award. No one should have to live in fear or suffer in silence.
“His efforts to help stamp out prejudice and discrimination in the local community are a huge achievement, and one he should rightly be proud of.”
Mr Healey founded his campaign in April 2009, to mark the tenth anniversary of the London Nail Bomb attacks in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho, which were motivated by homophobia and racism.
17-24-30 works to remember those killed and injured, to provide support and to raise funds to tackle hate crime across communities.
Mark Healey said: “I am very honoured to be recognised as a Point of Light by the Prime Minister for my voluntary work with the 17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign/charity. As with all recognition I dedicate my work to those who have been taken away from us through acts of hate, in particular I dedicate this award to the memory of Nik Moore, John Light and Andrea Dykes who lost their lives in The Admiral Duncan nail bomb attack, and to David Morley (aka Sinders) killed by a gang of teenagers in a so-called “happy slapping” attack as he walked home along the South Bank.
“I am passionate about making the world a better place by tackling all forms of hate in our communities and I hope that the National Hate Crime Awareness Week #HCAW I have created helps inspire every politician, every local authority, every police service and every community affected by hate crime to work more closely together to tackle all forms of hate. There should be no place for hate in any of our communities – so let’s work together to make them safer places for all.
“I also want to encourage people to consider volunteering and think about what they can do to benefit and improve their local communities. It is very rewarding knowing that we are all capable of stepping in and doing something good. That we all have the ability to be a positive influence on the outcome of events around us.”
