Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 25 October 2020

MATHEW HULBERT, a Barwell-based LGBT+ Rights Campaigner, has highlighted the need to stand up against hate crime, following reports that homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have risen.

Hulbert, who was once Chair at Leicester’s LGBT Centre, was active throughout the week of Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Hate Crime Awareness Week is held annually with an aim to raise awareness about crimes against people, based on a real or perceived difference, and to stand against those who perpetuate them.

Mathew, who currently serves as the Independent Chair of the Leicestershire Police and Fire Services LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group, chaired a meeting with the Independent Advisory Group.

The meeting focused on hate crime and how Police are tackling it, as well as standing up for minority communities, and raising awareness of the need for these hate crimes to be reported to the police by upstanders if they seem them taking place.

At the start of the meeting, a minute’s silence was held in memory of those who have sadly lost their lives as a result of hate crime.

Throughout Hate Crime Awareness Week, Mathew had written two articles – one for the LGBT+ support page on the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council website, and the second for Leicestershire County Council’s Leicestershire Equalities Challenge Group newsletter.

Speaking about the Hate Crime Awareness Week, Mathew Hulbert, said: “It’s awful to hear that hate crimes are going up and we all need to take a stand against them and stand in solidarity with all minority communities at this time.

“It’s important that such crimes and incidents are reported to the police, so they can be investigated and so the authorities have a fuller and more complete picture of what exactly is going on.

“The message of the week is that there is no place for hate in our society and it is one we will keep repeating. Love trumps hate.”