Statements of Support #NatioanlHCAW 2019

Every year we received letters of support for National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 2019 from across the social and political spectrum.

We will be adding these letters of support below on this post and on this year’s National Google Map 2018 here as we received them.

Letters should be sent with a jpeg photo to info@nationalhcaw.uk

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Political Leaders

Co-Leaders of the Green Party Sian Berry & Jonathan Bartley

We are writing as the leaders of the Green Party to voice our support for National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2019. We are proud to stand by a core Green value that there is absolutely no place for hate in the U.K, or anywhere in the world.

In the past five years, hate crimes have doubled in England and Wales, showing that our fight against hate crime is far from over.

It is essential that we identify and tackle the roots of hate in society. So far in 2019 we have seen a worrying surge in far-right anti-migrant rhetoric in the U.K. We have seen dehumanising protests against LGBTQIA+ inclusion on the curriculum, which goes to further homophobia and transphobia. We have seen places of worship targeted by those who intend to cause harm.

This should not be a country where people who are different fear for their lives; where members of religious, racial, sexual, disability, or social minorities fear persecution on the streets of their towns, or where women and girls fear attacks and harassment based on their gender.

We are proud of the Green Party’s dedication to upholding existing hate crime legislation, as well as our work to go even further and campaign to make misogyny a hate crime. Whether it is harassment on the way home from school or groping on public transport, misogyny is a part of too many women and girls’ everyday life. It is time these acts were recorded for what they really are – hate crime.

Everybody should use NHCAW as an opportunity to broaden their understanding of hate crime. It is a time to learn about the place that hate crime occupies in our history and the present day, to listen to marginalised groups, and to become better allies to the social groups that make up the rich and brilliant diversity of the U.K.

Sian Berry & Jonathan Bartley
Co-Leaders of the Green Party

Ministers

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Minister for Counting Extremism Baroness Williams

Crimes motivated by hate have no place in modern Britain. We strongly
believe that giving people the security they need to live their lives free from
fear is the essential foundation for a life of liberty.

That is why this Government will always take action at attempts to divide our
society. Our Hate Crime Action Plan published in 2016, and refreshed in
October last year, sets out the cross-Government response to tackling hate
crime. We continue to provide funding to protect places of worship across the
country, so people feel safe practising their faith. The Home Office’s Hate
Crime Community Project Fund is supporting people to promote our shared
values as a country within their own communities. And, in April, the
Government published the Online Harms White Paper, setting out our plan to
make tech giants take responsibility for the safety of their users, including
sickening hate crime content.

But, we are not complacent. We will endeavour to better understand the
impact that hate crime has on families, our communities and wider society.
We will empower individuals to express their identity regardless of their
background or characteristics. We will overcome the division that can beset
our country and celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism underpinning our
society.

This Government will always tackle hatred and give people the security and
freedom they need to live their lives as they choose. We give our best wishes
– and unwavering support – to all those communities coming together to fight
hatred and prejudice and promote British values during Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Minister for Counting Extremism Baroness Williams

Susan Williams, Baroness Williams of Trafford

Any instance of hate crime is one too many and the UK Government stands shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with all victims of this abhorrent crime. Hate Crime Awareness Week helps to highlight the dedication and commitment of many organisations, including civil society groups, across the country who are working tirelessly to eradicate hate crime, and I am proud to be a part of it. 

Susan Williams
Baroness Williams of Trafford and Minister for Counting Extremism

Members of Parliament

Members of the House of Lords

Mayor of London

London Borough Mayors

Mayor of Brent Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi

As the Mayor of Brent, I am honoured to support the 8^th Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by hate crime. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and unite in saying NO TO HATE CRIME. I would like to thank Mark and all those involved in organising and raising this very important issue.

Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi
Mayor of Brent

Mayor of Haringey

“Haringey is an amazingly diverse borough and that is one of the things I, and our residents, love most about it. Hate crime has a real and lasting impact – no one should be targeted because of their religion, race, sexual orientation or identity, or disability. There is no place for this in London, the UK or the world. I am proud of all those standing up and saying no to hate – it is a job for every one of us.”

Mayor of Haringey :  Cllr Sheila Peacock

Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz

As Mayor of Newham, I would like to send a message of support to the 8th Act of Hope and Remembrance taking place today, as part of the National Hate Crime Awareness Week. Across England and Wales rates of hate crime are rising. Nobody should have to endure hate crime, and I would like to thank the founders and organisers of the initiative for creating a space where we can express our respect and solidarity.

It is imperative to show kindness, civility and especially in public life. As Mayor of the most diverse borough in the country, I know how important it is to ensure that unity, mutual respect, based on equality, triumphs over hate and division. In Newham our social integration strategy will bring together our communities through a programme of wider community engagement. Newham is a borough where anyone should feel welcome and, as Mayor, I am committed to ensuring that hate crime is reported and tackled, that victims are supported, and that we have communities that feel happy and safe.

Kind regards
Rokhsana Fiaz
Mayor of Newham

Mayor of Sutton Muhammad Sadiq

I am delighted to join you for this Act of Hope and Remembrance at St Paul’s
Cathedral on the 13th October 2019.

I would like to offer mine and the London Borough of Sutton’s support by highlighting
National Hate Crime Awareness Week in Sutton.

We will be holding events across Sutton from 14th to 18th October 2019. Our aim is
to bring people together; to stand with those affected by Hate Crime; to remember
those we have lost and those who need our support in tackling a hugely damaging
problem currently threatening our society.

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq
Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton

Mayor of Waltham Forest

As with my predecessors, I am pleased to add my support to National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

As Mayor of Waltham Forest, I am proud of our record of unity and cohesion in this most diverse of boroughs. We encourage people to share and celebrate their differences and so increase understanding and acceptance.

No one should live in fear because of who they are. It is up to us all to stand up against discrimination and hate. I therefore wish you every success with the week ahead and in the future.

Cllr Chris Robbins CBE, Mayor of Waltham Forest 2019-20

Lord Mayor of Westminster Ruth Bush

Police and Crime Commissioners

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens

I welcome National Hate Crime Awareness Week as an opportunity to talk about hate crime, the impact it has on people’s lives and what we can all be doing to prevent it from happening in the first place. It also provides an opportunity to reach out to victims of this awful crime and let them know that they are not alone and, most importantly, there are people who can offer help and support.

I fully support the work being done to raise awareness of such a damaging crime. It is only by standing together, can we truly tackle hate crime. Our message is clear – perpetrators who affect communities with their hatred are not welcome and will not be tolerated.

Hate crime is motivated by prejudice towards any aspect of an individual’s identity such as a disability, sexuality, race or religion. Since January this year, 2,686 hate crimes have been reported in Avon and Somerset and the majority of these were racially motivated, while others were transphobic, homophobic, gender, faith and disability related.

We continue to live in a time of uncertainty where our country’s future in the European Union remains unclear. In these uncertain time, there has been a worrying increase in hate crime nationally including in Avon and Somerset. Let’s be clear, there are no excuses for this behaviour and as local communities we must stand together united against hate crime.

As communities, if we see this behaviour we must challenge it and report it. We must help give victims of hate crime the confidence to speak to the police or partner agencies about their experience. There are some fantastic organisations offering support to victims of hate crime and we need to ensure victims know where to go for support.

I believe we must take pride in the rich, multi-cultural and beautifully diverse communities we live in, taking every opportunity to learn more about other cultures, traditions and livelihoods. Celebrating inclusivity has been the focus of past hate crime awareness weeks in Avon and Somerset and teams have used #No2Hate to show that together we stand united against Hate Crime.

As individuals, I believe our differences should be celebrated; it’s our uniqueness that makes each and every one of us who we are. Being targeted because of your age, race, sexual orientation, religion or any other reason is unacceptable.

Sue Mountstevens

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger

I am writing to show my support for National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which is
taking place between the 12th and 19th October.

Since coming into office in November 2012, tackling hate crime has been a key priority for me, as part of my work to improve services for victims and witnesses. Through my Your Force Your Voice community engagement programme I have been and spoken to residents from across the Cleveland area, including many diverse groups, and sadly the consistent theme from diverse communities is that hate crime remains a priority for them, and that intolerance is still evident within our local areas.

I have established a multi agency cross Cleveland Strategic Hate Crime and Incidents
Group, which I chair, and which is focused around five key areas:

• Preventing hate crime and incidents
• Responding to hate crime and incidents in our communities
• Increasing the reporting of hate crime and incidents
• Improving support for the victims of hate crime and incidents
• Building our understanding of hate crime and incidents

I have also funded dedicated resources within the Police focusing on engaging with
diverse communities to break down barriers, build trust and encourage reporting, and also on hate crime investigation.

Tackling hate crime is a role for all organisations, not just those within the public sector. As such I work closely with the voluntary and community sector, and have provided funding for a number of initiatives, including:

• Funding for Show Racism the Red Card educational workshops in primary and
  secondary schools across Cleveland, to raise awareness of hate crime and the
  impact that it has on victims.
• Funding for Trans Aware to deliver transgender awareness sessions with young
  people involved in the National Citizen Service, focusing on mythbusting and
  education regarding transgender and non binary issues.
• Support for a range of community cohesion events including Middlesbrough Pride, Middlesbrough Mela and Stockton EID Fusion

These are just a few of the initiatives I have supported, there are many more, as I am
passionate about tackling hate crime. I know it is a vastly under reported crime and I am working hard with the Police and our partners to put the message out to communities that we will not tolerate this unacceptable behaviour.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week is a brilliant mechanism for raising public
awareness of this important issue and an opportunity for us all to stand together against the minority of people who continue to target others within their communities based on their Race, Religion, Disability, Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity. We should all be free to be who we are without fear of prejudice and intolerance, and I am determined that we will continue to strive for this in Cleveland.

Barry Coppinger

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Haydral Dhinsa

Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert

My office and I fully support his year’s National Hate Crime Awareness Week (HCAW) and its message that there is ‘No Place for Hate in the UK’.

The HCAW campaign is essential to raising awareness of hate crime, remembering those we have lost, supporting those who need our ongoing support and encouraging services to work with key partners & communities to tackle local hate crime issues.

As Police and Crime and Commissioner, I want Gwent to be a place where people can live, work and contribute to our communities without living in constant fear of experiencing hatred of any kind.

However, should someone become a victim of hate crime in Gwent, we have the mechanisms in place to support them. This could be via our specially trained Hate Crime Support officers or partners in Connect Gwent, our multi-agency victim’s hub.

If you would like more information on the support available, please visit www.bit.ly/GPHateCrime.

Jeff Cuthbert

Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Rt Hon Jane Kennedy

Hate crime is included within two priority areas that I have set up for Merseyside Police – to ‘Support Victims and Protect vulnerable People’, and to ‘Prevent Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour’. My staff work with a number of organisations operating across the Merseyside area to provide support services to victims of hate crime and also raise awareness of hate crime issues throughout the area, including within school settings. The services provided to victims include peer support and practical advice, focused upon the needs of the individual and the risk factors that are present within each unique case.

I have committed £105,000 per year in a 3 year commissioning strategy to provide hate crime support. The following organisations are commissioned through until April 2021:

• The Anthony Walker Foundation is a well-established charity, formed following the tragic death of Anthony Walker in a racially motivated attack. It provides a service for victims of race and/or religious motivated hate crime. The organisation has strong understanding of all aspects of hate crime, and acts as the coordinator for all the Hate Crime services commissioned by my office.

• Daisy UK is a national registered charity that is well known in Merseyside, with a base in Liverpool and good partnership links. It provides a service for the victims of disability related Hate Crime; and

• Citizens Advice Liverpool provides a service for the victims of LGBT related Hate Crime is a part of a network of charities operating nationally, with a strong footprint in Merseyside. They provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities, and have a strong understanding of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Hate Crime issues.

In addition, I fund Stop Hate UK to provide services as a 3rd party reporting centre for those wishing to report hate crime, but who may not wish to enter the formal criminal justice process. SHUK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties. SHUK has worked closely with me to raise awareness of hate crime, including marketing campaigns that I have supported.

I will also be working with Stop Hate UK supporting National Hate Crime Awareness Week in Merseyside this October.

Furthermore, after close collaboration with me, Liverpool FC, Everton FC and Tranmere Rovers FC are publishing articles about hate crime in their match day programmes to coincide with HCAW and it is hoped that the clubs will also distribute Stop Hate UK ‘Blow Time On Hate Crime’ beer mats to coincide with the articles in the match day programmes. My staff will be attending multi-agency events during NHCAW with our partners promoting SHUK and encouraging reporting of hate crime. Liverpool City Council are in the process of drawing together these events. During HCAW we will be undertaking a social media campaign promoting #NOPLACEFORHATE, #NO2HATE and Stop Hate UK.

Tackling Hate Crime is a hugely important issue. I believe that people should be able to live their lives in peace and safety irrespective of their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. I have supported previous National Hate Crime Awareness Weeks, providing letters of support, promoting the event through my website and social media channels, attending multi-faith events highlighting how communities are working side by side to combat hate crime. I have also held a range of awareness events, including hate crime training days for professionals, seminars on equality and diversity, community roadshows and awareness events in schools across Merseyside. NHCAW has always historically been an excellent opportunity to promote the SHUK commissioned service, by dedicated leaflet drops, mailshots to partners and stalls at events across the region.

Through this dedicated and consistent approach, I am making every attempt to tackle hate crime and protect those at risk, ensuring that Merseyside is a safe place for all to live, work and visit.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Jane Kennedy

Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson

“Hate Crime Awareness Week is a great opportunity to stand together with our communities to reject hate and intolerance.

“It’s important that I use my platform as West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to support and raise awareness of such a worthwhile initiative as well as the organisations that help to fight against hate, such as “17-24-30 National Hate Crime Awareness Week”.

“Tackling hate crime continues to be a focus in my Police and Crime Plan as well as  also recognising hate incidents and working with partners to prevent escalation.

“A host of work has been already done and is on-going, I have worked closely with West Yorkshire Police to run the “Hate Hurts” campaign which looks to raise awareness of the issues and how to report them. I have funded Victims Hubs in every district of West Yorkshire where anyone affected by crime can go and get the support they need.

“I have also funded and worked with a number of dedicated community groups and charities who are highlighting awareness of hate crime, supporting victims and preventing incidents from taking place in the first place, such as Stop Hate UK who created an innovative free smartphone app for reporting hate crime bespoke to West Yorkshire which I provided funding for.

“If you have experienced a hate crime/incident it can be reported via the online reporting form, the non-emergency 101 number or calling in person at a police station, always call 999 in an emergency or if there is a threat to life. If you would rather not speak to a Police Officer, you can use one of the independent Hate Incident Reporting Centres provided by Local Authorities across West Yorkshire or visit one of the Victims Hubs previously mentioned to speak with a Victim Support Advisor.”

Mark Burns-Williamson

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner

Metropolitan Police Service

BCU Commander Chief Superintendent Helen Harper

As BCU Commander for Central West, I am writing in support of National Hate Crime
Awareness Week being held on 12th – 19th October. We are committed to tackling hate crime across all our communities. This week is an opportunity to raise awareness and
understanding around hate crime, to encourage people to come forward and report hate
crime to police and to stand together to say no to hate.

We are committed to working tirelessly to identify individuals who commit hate crimes. One victim of hate crime, is one victim too many and we will support our communities to speak out about hate crime, never suffering in silence. There is no place for hate crime in our communities. We work closely with partners and our communities to ensure we do
everything possible to prevent, protect and support those that have been a victim or affected by hate and hate crimes.

Everyone has the right to live safely without the fear of prejudice or discrimination. During this week lets work together to raise awareness, helping to improve the lives of those affected by this crime.

For some assistance and ideas on planning hate crime events and for more information,
please visit the official website http://www.nationalhcaw.uk

Thank you to everyone committed to making a difference

Helen Harper
BCU Commander Chief Superintendent Helen Harper

BCU Commander Central East Marcus Barnett 

The annual National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) takes place this year on 12th – 19th October 2019. It is a week that I give my full support and backing to. Any form of hate crime is completely unacceptable and I encourage everyone to please get involved in the hate crime awareness events that will be taking place across the country. It is a fantastic way to raise awareness of hate crime and an opportunity for all people to stand together, as one, to show their support for those who have been effected by Hate Crime. 

Officers across Hackney and Tower Hamlets will be working alongside and supporting NHCAW throughout. From Remembrance Services and peace walks to Hate Crime Awareness stalls and Outreach Sessions. These events will be advertised so please do come along, show your support, and together, we can eliminate all forms of hate crime. 

Best Regards,
Marcus Barnett
BCU Commander Central East

Temp. South Area BCU Commander Dave Stringer

National Hate Crime Awareness week runs from the 12th to 19th October this year. This is an opportunity for us as a community to express our determination that everyone has the right to live their live without fear of harassment or intimidation. Crimes motivated by hate can be very damaging to community cohesion and frequently have a very significant effect on the victim, their family and friends and wider community due to the personal targeting that is involved.

There is no place for hate in our communities and anyone who commits a hate crime can expect to feel the full force of the law.

We are working closely with partners and the wider community over the week to raise awareness of hate crime and the practical help that is available to victims. I would like to thank my team and all those who have helped to organise the activities during the week to make sure these important events happen.

Yours sincerely,
Dave Stringer
Temp. South Area BCU Commander

South East BCU Commander Chief Superintendent Simon Dobinson 

As the BCU Commander for the South East, I am conscious of the vulnerability, pain and suffering faced by those victims who are confronted by hate crime. Our communities should not tolerate hatred as a result of difference, nor should victims of such hatred suffer in silence. 

We in the South East BCU continue to work tirelessly to identify those who commit such crimes and provide support to those who need it from the work we do with key partners around prevention whilst supporting victims through the criminal justice system. 

Hate crime has no place in society and we encourage all victims to come forward and ask them to put their trust in us to help stop the suffering they face whether this be as result of being a victim themselves or representing the interests of another. 

Raising the awareness of Hate Crime is just one way in which we alongside our partners and communities, can help improve the lives of those affected by it. National Hate Crime Awareness Week enables us to promote our work and really generate a greater level of awareness for everyone.

Simon Dobinson

South East BCU Commander

South West BCU Commander Chief Superintendent Sally Benatar

I am Sally Benatar, BCU Commander of the South West and I am very pleased and happy to be writing this open letter to all in order to offer my strongest support and commitment to the work being carried out during National Hate Crime Awareness Week this 12th – 19th October.

Hate is probably the most divisive of all human emotions and as we are all aware, has led to some of the worst atrocities and pain throughout history.  However, hate rarely starts big, it generally starts as a small emotion, a small idea or thought and from this it spreads and grows. This is why it is so important to tackle hate wherever and whenever we see it and however it presents itself.  The small actions we say and do to others can have overwhelming effects. Addressing hate starts with each of us individually – at some point or another in our lives we may have had distrust or fear of others and it is these misconceptions that can lead to hate. Once we recognise this in ourselves, we can spread this message to the communities we serve and help them to overcome hate in all its forms.  We are human, we make mistakes, but resorting to hate is never the answer. Hate is combated through understanding and sharing with the people around us, by overcoming the unknown and challenging prejudice and confusion.  

I hope that we all come together during this week of action, sharing with the people we work with and the people we serve to prevent and suppress hate. I encourage you to visit the official website www.nationalhcaw.uk where there are ideas and assistance for planning of events and activities you can do to help.

Promote H.O.P.E

Yours sincerely,
Sally Benatar
Chief Superintendent South West BCU Commander

Northern Ireland Assembly

National Assembly for Wales

Deputy Minister and Chief Whip Jane Hutt AM

Today we mark Hate Crime Awareness Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness, encourage hate crime reporting, and inspire people to work together to combat this affront to victims of hate crime. The Welsh Government’s vision is an inclusive Wales in which people from all backgrounds can thrive, and where there is no room for xenophobia, racism or bigotry. We are determined to drive out hate crime and ensure victims do not suffer in silence.

The theme for Hate Crime Awareness Week 2019 is ‘Spread Love, Not Hate’. This is a pertinent message to reflect upon in the context of imminent EU withdrawal and the increasingly divisive political and media discourse which surrounds it. The racist abuse at last night’s European qualifying match in Bulgaria is another example of the rise of hateful attitudes and we utterly condemn it.

Since the EU Referendum, there has been a marked increase in reports relating to hate crimes and incidents. This increase has been both quantitative in terms of hate crime reports to Police forces and the Welsh Government-funded National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre and anecdotal reports where individuals claim that they did not report incidents due to a lack of faith that a prosecution would follow.

The 2018/2019 Hate Crime Statistics for England and Wales were published by the Home Office on 15 October. The statistics show a 17% increase in recorded hate crimes across Wales compared to 2017/2018. This compares to an overall 10% increase across the whole of England and Wales. There were 3,932 recorded hate crimes across the four Welsh Police Force Areas of which:

• 2,676 (68%) were race hate crimes;
• 751 (19%) were sexual orientation hate crimes;
• 206 (5%) were religion hate crimes;
• 443 (11%) were disability hate crimes; and
• 120 (3%) were transgender hate crimes.

The statistics reflect the hard work being done across Wales by Police Forces, the Third Sector and the National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre (run by Victim Support Cymru) to increase the confidence of victims and encourage them to report these incidents. However, the statistics also illustrate the need for concerted effort on the part of public authorities, including the Welsh Government, to counter negative perceptions of minority communities, tackle hate crime where it occurs, and support victims.

We recognise the risk the uncertainty of a ‘no deal’ Brexit may bring which could further exacerbate tensions in our communities. We have acted to mitigate these risks as far as possible through utilising the Welsh Government’s European Transition Fund and mobilising our existing networks to tackle hate crime and promote community cohesion in the following ways:

The National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre provides independent advocacy and support for victims of hate crime in Wales. This service was expanded in April 2019 by an additional £360,000 to ensure the Centre has increased capacity to support victims of hate crime until March 2021.

In March, I also announced the ‘Hate Crime Minority Communities Grant’ – a one-off grant fund to support community organisations who are working closely with ethnic minority and faith communities who are at risk of experiencing hate crime. The Grant was developed following engagement with the Wales Race Forum. I have recently approved £330,000 of funding to the North Wales Regional Equality Network (NWREN), Show Racism the Red Card, Bawso, EYST Wales, Race Council Cymru, Race Equality First, and Women Connect First. These organisations will implement a range of projects over the next 18 months, including increasing understanding of hate crime and confidence in how to report, work to challenge negative attitudes in schools and colleges, explore restorative justice approaches with perpetrators, and undertake community engagement initiatives.

We are currently developing a national campaign to try to reduce the incidence of hate crimes and incidents in Wales, to be launched in 2020. We are currently gathering the views of stakeholders, members of the public, and victims of hate crimes to inform the development of the campaign and its aims. This campaign will help us to promote positive messaging throughout the year.

We are expanding our Community Cohesion Programme with an additional £1.5million of European Transition Funding until March 2021. This funding is supporting small teams in each region of Wales to enable increased engagement with local communities and public services, and to respond to whatever tensions may arise as the UK leaves the EU. In recent years our funding of the Programme has ensured the Welsh Government is working alongside key partners to foster cohesion, and help tackle hate crime and counter the threat of extremism. It has been essential that the capacity of this well-established programme has been bolstered during this uncertain period for Wales.

Alongside these projects, the Welsh Government will continue to convene the Hate Crime Criminal Justice Board Cymru to ensure an effective forum for key stakeholders working to address hate crime across Wales.

Since last year’s hate crime awareness week, there have been a number of high profile terrorist incidents around the world clearly motivated by hatred for ethnic, faith or LGBT+ communities. We want to reassure anyone from diverse backgrounds, living in Wales, that we are united with them in opposing such vile and hateful acts. After the Christchurch attacks in March, I wrote to Imams to express this sentiment and I have written to Rabbis after the attack on a Synagogue in Germany just last week. Such acts are fundamentally opposed to Welsh values and we will be steadfast in condemning them when they occur.

Wales has a long history of welcoming diverse and vibrant communities, much of it harmonious, but this cannot be taken for granted. This year we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the 1919 race riots. This is a timely reminder of how intolerance and prejudice still resides in our communities and we must address this over the coming months.

Jane Hutt.

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Letters from previous years are available;

• Letters 2018
• Letters 2017
• Letters 2016
• Letters 2015
• Letter from Mayor of London 2015
• Letters 2014
• Letters 2013
• Letters 2012