Written question WQ82859

I was appalled to read about the homophobic attack on a student in Cardiff on 1 July. The Welsh Government funds Victim Support Cymru to run the National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre. The Centre offers provision of free and independent support and advocacy to all hate crime victims, available 24 hours, 7 days a week. This includes emotional support, signposting, face to face meetings, advocacy and liaison with Police, personal safety advice, practical solutions, and restorative justice support. All training provided by Victim Support includes LGBTQ+ Hate Crime. LGBTQ+ organisations including GISDA, Chester Pride, Pride Cymru and Swansea Pride have signed up to Victim Support’s Hate Crime Charter.

LGBTQ+ people were consulted via focus groups when developing our major ‘Hate Hurts Wales’ communications campaign. The feedback from this engagement was used to refine the creative ideas, the tone, and the messaging for the final campaign, which was launched in March 2021. Another burst of activity will take place later in 2021.

The Welsh Government has repeatedly urged the Home Secretary to recognise hate crime motivated by sexual orientation and transgender identity as aggravated offences, bringing them in line with the manner in which racially and religiously motivated hate crimes are prosecuted.

Our LGBTQ+ Action Plan, which will shortly be published for consultation, recognises the impact of hate crime on LGBTQ+ people and sets out a series of actions to address this.