WEST Mercia Police has joined forces with a range of groups across the area to launch a major new campaign aimed at increasing the reporting of hate crime.

On a national level, hate crimes are underreported and this campaign is aimed at giving victims the confidence to come forward and report their ordeal.

The theme of the campaign is 'Being you is not a crime: Hate crime is'.

Over the coming months officers will use the campaign to raise awareness of hate crime across Redditch and Bromsgrove, as well as other areas.

The event was launched at an event last week which gave people the opportunity to find out more about hate crime, how to report it and the support available to victims.

Officers from the local safer neighbourhood policing team were joined by representatives from Victim Support, the Community Safety Partnership, Citizens Advice Bureau, North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnership, and more.

Chief Inspector Rebecca Love said: "This campaign is about tackling hate crime at every level. For many people, hate crime may have become a part of their daily life; they might not even know they are the victim of a hate crime.

"We are saying that this shouldn't be that case and it will not be tolerated.

"Nobody should be victimised because of who they are; please don't suffer in silence, report it today and let us help you by tackling the people responsible."

Bill Longmore, PCC for West Mercia, said: "Obviously we want to prevent hate crime happening in the first place but where it does occur I hope people are now more aware of the huge impact it has on people's lives and the help that exists for victims."