48% increase in hate crimes against children recorded in Derbyshire

Derbyshire police recorded a 48 per cent increase in hate crimes against children last year, new figures have shown.
Childline has launched a new Understand Me campaign to challenge discriminationChildline has launched a new Understand Me campaign to challenge discrimination
Childline has launched a new Understand Me campaign to challenge discrimination

And 43 of the hate crimes recorded in the county had a racial, religious or faith-based element, the figures obtained by the NSPCC using the Freedom of Information Act show.

Nationally, Childline delivered almost 2,700 counselling sessions about race and faith based bullying in the last three years.

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A new Understand Me campaign has now been launched by Childline, amid fears that children are suffering in silence from physical bullying, verbal abuse, cyberbulling and racist name calling because of the colour of their skin, religious beliefs or their accent.

The campaign, which includes a film ‘Think You Understand Me?’, challenges xenophobia and prejudice, empowering young people to speak out about racial bullying and discrimination and seek help should they need it.

Spikes in Childline counselling sessions about racial and faith based bullying have sometimes followed terror attacks, with the number rising by over a third following the Westminster attack in March 2017, compared to the previous month.

Some young people contacting Childline said the abuse and negative stereotyping was so cruel they had self-harmed or the bullying inside and out of school made them feel isolated and withdrawn from society. Others said they no longer wanted to go to school because they were worried about the abuse they would face.

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NSPCC CEO Peter Wanless said: “It’s heartbreaking to think that some children are targeted by bullies because of their race, culture or nationality. Racist jokes and negative stereotyping can be hurtful and leave young people feeling isolated and ashamed of who they are or where they are from.

“Our Understand Me campaign aims to reach out to all children who are experiencing racial or faith based bullying and make sure they know that they are not alone. No child should suffer in silence and anyone being targeted must be supported to tell someone and ask for help.”

Dame Esther Rantzen, President of Childline said: “Bullying of any kind is vile, but targeting someone because of the colour of their skin, religious beliefs or their accent is simply unacceptable. Children are taking on board prejudices around race and religion in society and trading them as playground insults, with extremely harmful results.

“Young people should be encouraged to be proud of who they are. Racial bullying can be hard to cope with but young people need to know they don’t have to carry this burden alone. Childline is here for all young people and talking to someone might help them find a way to deal with the situation.”

Any child worried about bullying can call Childline on 0800 11 11. Any adult who is concerned about a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0800 800 5000.