Safer Communities

16/10/2026

You don't have to face hate alone.

If you experience or witness hate crime, you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Hate crime should be reported.

If someone is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999.

If it’s not an emergency, you can report it to the police by calling 101 or using the online reporting service.

You can also get support if you’ve been affected by hate crime.

Our Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) is available to victims of crime who would benefit from additional support. You can contact the team on 0303 040 1099.

You deserve to feel safe, heard and supported.

15/10/2026

A quick round up of our recent engagement activity and a big thank you to the groups, community spaces and organisations who have invited us to be part of your events and drop ins, enabling us to spread the word far and wide about the support we provide!

Victim Care and Advice Service provides emotional and practical support to victims and witnesses, assisting them to navigate the criminal justice system and to cope and recover. As well as police referrals, we also accept referrals from other organisations and self-referrals so it's really important that as many people as possible know about us and how to get in touch.

Thank you for recent opportunities to:

Speak at the TS6 Pride In Place event TS6 TOGETHER, Building Safer, Stronger More Connected Communities

Attend Ladies of Steel Pensioners Social with a great range of other local services including Beyond Housing, Cleveland Police Neighbourhood Police and Crime Prevention Teams and Stop Loan Sharks England

Have an information stall at the Middlesbrough Council Town Hall event celebrating the International Day of Older People- it was great to speak to almost 100 people that day!!!

Join Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees at the Health and Wellbeing Drop In at Wolviston Village Community Centre Warm Welcome- our Community Engagement Co-ordinator Sarah particularly enjoyed meeting Pepsi the security dog!

Raise awareness of Hate Crime and the available support by attending Morrisons Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, along with Middlesbrough Council and Thirteen with information stalls in the cafe and chatting to customers.

Share No Cold Caller Packs and information about fraud trends with local people attending the eco shop at St Hilda's Church, Redcar.

We have also been along to job centres in Eston and Hartlepool and had a fantastic day being involved with Amal Project Teesside Children's Eid Event at Middlesbrough FC Riverside Stadium!

Please visit our website www.vcas.uk for further information about the support we provide. Referral forms are in the 'Get Support' section. Alternatively please contact us on 0303 040 1099.

15/10/2026

Experiencing a hate crime can make you feel scared, anxious or worried. You do not have to deal with it alone.

Our Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) offers free, confidential support to help you feel safe and confident again.

If you need support, please contact us:
📞 0303 040 1099
📧 [email protected]

Hate has no place in our communities in Cleveland!

This , we're raising awareness of the impact hate crime can have on individuals, families and communities, reminding everyone that we all have a part to play in challenging prejudice and standing up against hate.

Through our Hate Ends Here campaign, we're encouraging people to speak out against crime, support those affected and help created safer communities for everyone.

Hate Ends Here has three, main messages:

1. Recognise - Understand what hate crime is and recognise that it is a criminal offence.
2. Report - Show the ways, in which you can report hate crime
3. Recover - Access the right support to help you recover from a hateful incident

https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/working-for-you/reduce-crime-antisocial-behaviour-and-harm/hate-crime/hate-ends-here-campaign/

14/10/2026

Would you recognise a hate crime?

Hate crime isn’t always physical. It can include threatening behaviour, harassment, criminal damage and abuse online.

What makes it a hate crime is that the person has been targeted because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity, or because the offender believes they have one of these characteristics.

And it doesn’t have to happen to you personally. If you see something happening to someone else, you can report it too.

If you’re unsure whether something counts as a hate crime, don’t let that stop you from asking for advice or reporting what happened.

Speaking up can help make sure people get the support they need and can help prevent further incidents.

12/10/2026

Supporting Hate Crime Awareness Week

Everyone should be able to feel safe in their community, without fear of being targeted because of who they are.

Hate crime can happen because of someone’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. It can take many forms, including threats, harassment, assault, criminal damage and online abuse.

It can have a lasting impact on individuals, families and whole communities.

This week, we’re helping to raise awareness of hate crime and reminding people that hate has no place in our communities.

Let’s look out for one another, challenge prejudice and help make our communities safer for everyone.

09/10/2026

📞 Getting unwanted or suspicious calls? Don’t let scammers catch you off guard.

Scam calls can sound convincing, with criminals pretending to be from your bank, a company or even a government service.

A few simple steps can help:

🔒 Never give personal, banking or security information to an unexpected caller.

📵 If you’re unsure, end the call and contact the organisation yourself using a trusted phone number.

⏰ Don’t feel pressured to act straight away. Take time to check the call is genuine.

🏦 If someone claims to be from your bank, you can call 159 to be connected securely to your bank if it’s part of the scheme.

You can report suspicious calls by texting 7726 for free. If you’ve lost money to a scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud.

Stay alert and don’t be afraid to put the phone down if something doesn’t feel right.

07/10/2026

Many people are surprised to learn that Restorative Justice is completely voluntary.

You decide whether to take part.

You decide if, when and how communication happens.

Whether that's through a letter, messages, questions passed on by a practitioner or, if appropriate, meeting face to face, you'll be supported every step of the way.

Your safety and wellbeing always come first.

Want to know more? Get in touch:
📞 Call 03302 234312
🌐 Visit: restorativecleveland.co.uk

06/10/2026

Been affected by crime? Support is available.

The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) provides free, independent and confidential support to people affected by crime in Cleveland, whether or not the crime has been reported to the police.

From practical advice to emotional support, VCAS is there to help you understand your options and find the right support.

Find out more: https://vcas.uk/

03/10/2026

World Romance Scam Prevention Day – Saturday 3 October

Romance scams can happen anywhere online, from dating apps and social media to other platforms where people connect.

Scammers can spend weeks or months building trust before asking for money or personal information.

🚩 They become close very quickly
🚩 They always have a reason why they can’t meet
🚩 They ask for money because of an emergency or unexpected problem
🚩 They ask you to keep things secret

If someone you’ve met online asks for money, take a step back and talk to someone you trust.

And remember, there’s no shame in being caught out by a scam.

For more information and to report fraud visit the Report Fraud website: www.reportfraud.police.uk

01/10/2026

"The support worker took her time and explained things to me so that I understood what was happening.

"She came to my home and helped me block the scammers phone numbers from my phone and gave me her phone number incase I needed to contact her, nothing was too little.

"I don't know how I would of got through it without her help. I would definitely recommend this service."

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with our team. Knowing that our support helped you through such a difficult time means so much to us.

If you've been affected by crime, including fraud or scams, you don't have to face it alone. Our Victim Care and Advice Service provides free, independent and confidential support.

Get in touch:
📞 0303 040 1099
✉️ [email protected]