Queens Cross Housing Association has pledged its support to Hate Crime Awareness Week this week.

The campaign, which aims to tackle underreporting of hate crime, is a first for Scottish Community Safety partners.

Hate crime is defined as “any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate”.

As a third party reporting centre for hate crime, the Association hopes its involvement will encourage tenants and local people who have experienced or witnessed hate crime to speak out.

Assistant neighbourhood housing manager, Tracy Hamill, attended a launch event for the campaign in Glasgow’s Central Station on Monday.

She said: “Anti-social behaviour or crime motivated by hate can have a devastating effect not only on individuals, but also on the wider community.

“Making sure hate crime is reported is essential to stamping it out. As a third party reporting centre, we provide a safe place for local people to report hate crime.

“Hate crime starts with individual prejudice. If this week can make one person think about their attitude and behaviour, or encourage someone to take action to report hate crime, it will be a success.”

Hate Crime Awareness Week started with a vigil in London in 2009 to show solidarity against hate crime, following the brutal homophobic murder of Ian Bayhnam in Trafalgar Square.

A total of 3,785 cases of racially motivated hate crimes were reported across Scotland in 2014/15. Hate crime motivated by prejudice against an individual with a disability increased by 20 per cent during the same period.

@QueensCrossHA