Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their race, colour, ethnic origin or nationality, their religion, their gender or gender identity, their sexual orientation, or their disability.

It can take many forms, from physical attacks such as an assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti and arson, to verbal abuse or insults or the threat of attack, including the sending of offensive letters, emails or texts, abusive or obscene telephone calls or malicious complaints.

Activities will be taking place throughout Hate Crime Awareness Week, which begins on Saturday (10 October, 2026), to highlight hate crime and the ways people can report incidents.

Representatives of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cohesion Team will be at the West Park parkrun on Saturday from 10am, sharing information with runners, while on Monday 12 October and Thursday 15 October they will be joining partners to distribute information and resources in the city centre.

There will be a special event in the Mander Centre from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday 13 October with partners including The Railway Children, Hope Community Project and Aspiring Futures who will be raising awareness of how to recognise and report a hate crime, while on Wednesday 14 October there will be awareness raising activities at the University of Wolverhampton and The Way Youth Zone. A further information session will take place at The Hub at Ashmore Park on Friday 16 October at 1pm.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: "The council and its partners take hate crime incredibly seriously, and all reports will be fully investigated by police.

“We'll be using Hate Crime Awareness Week to get people thinking about how to recognise hate crime if they witness or are victims to it.

"Most importantly, we'll be encouraging people to report instances of hate crime, which will enable victims to get the support they need and to ensure those committing it are met with justice.

"If you see any of our activities taking place during the week, please come along, say hello and help us spread the message that hate has no place in Wolverhampton. Whether it's having a conversation, writing a pledge or sharing information with others, every action helps build a more welcoming and inclusive city."

People can find out more about hate crime by logging on to StopHateWV.

To report incidents of hate crime, people can:

• Call police on 101 – or dial 999 if it is an emergency
• Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via Crimestoppers 
• Report in person to the police at any police station or one of the Police Hate Crime drop-ins – see StopHateWV for details
• Report at any Third-Party Reporting Centre – independent organisations that have been trained to record hate crimes and incidents, offer support and signpost to other help. See StopHateWV for details
• Visit Report It and fill in the online reporting form which will be forwarded to police for investigation
• If an incident occurs on a train or the Midland Metro, text British Transport Police on 61016
• If the incident is Islamophobic in nature, Tell MAMA by visiting Tell MAMA or calling on 0800 456 1226
  If the incident is anti-Semitic, it can be reported via Community Security Trust’s website or by calling 0208 457 9999.

For more details of National Hate Crime Awareness week, please visit National Hate Crime Awareness week.