Hate crime victim speaks out thanks to police support

A victim of hate crime has teamed up with Merseyside Police to urge others not to suffer in silence.

In a film produced to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Phil Hume talks about his experiences of being assaulted and defrauded by people taking advantage of his physical and learning difficulties.

As a result of what happened to him Phil now works for People First Merseyside, a charity in Sefton which supports people with learning difficulties and helps them speak out about hate crime and other matters.

His work also involves speaking to police officers, health professionals, social workers and housing providers during training so that they understand the needs of people with disabilities and the barriers they experience when reporting a hate crime against them.

Detective Constable Gerrie McConaghy also speaks on the film about her dedication as one of the force’s hate crime co-ordinators to preventing hate crime, supporting victims who do come forward and to improving the police’s response to tackling the problem.

Gerrie knows Phil from her years of service as a police officer in Sefton and the work of People First Merseyside, who are based in Bootle and Liverpool city centre.

She nominated him for the Diversity Award at the Chief Constable’s ‘Community First Awards’ which he went on to win despite fierce competition from several other people who also champion of the cause of vulnerable people in Merseyside.