Bath and North East Somerset Council has condemned racist and xenophobic behaviour following reports that its staff have suffered verbal abuse over the last week.
Cllr Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of Council, said: “The Council condemns these appalling acts and is keen to stress that discrimination of any kind will absolutely not be tolerated. The Council welcomes and celebrates diversity and the positive contribution that people of all different backgrounds make in helping Bath and North East Somerset to be the place to live, work and visit.
“These narrow-minded views do not represent those of the Council or the vast majority of our residents. We firmly believe that these small-minded views are held by a small minority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to all abuse and will work with the Police to ensure such incidents are thoroughly investigated and offenders are dealt with robustly.”
Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, Andy Marsh and Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens have released an open letter to residents in the force area about an increase in reports of hate crimes across the country following the results of the EU Referendum.
The letter, which can be viewed in full online at: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk, has been uploaded to reassure residents that Avon and Somerset Police are dedicated to keeping communities safe.
The letter says: "We have been dismayed at the stories of hate crime victimisation and racial or anti-immigrant abuse reported in the media. Whatever your thoughts on the result, we hope you find the injustice and devastating effects of this as abhorrent as we do. There can never be any excuse for hate crime in any shape or form and this criminality will not be tolerated.
"Nationally there has been a rise in the number of hate crime incidents to the national online reporting site, and we have seen a troublesome increase across Avon and Somerset too.
"Since the Referendum our police officers and staff have been reviewing the crime reports coming in to us with even greater scrutiny than before, and we have seen the numbers increase to an average of ten incidents per day in the last week compared to four. Thank you to those who showed courage in reporting.
"We value the rich, multi-cultural diversity of the cities, towns, villages and rural communities where we live and work and the people that make them, and we know this is true of many of you."
Anyone who has witnessed or been a victim of discrimination or abuse of any kind is urged to contact the Police. Anyone with information about a hate incident should report it either by calling 999 in an emergency or 101 in a non-emergency, or in person at a police station.
If contacting the Police online is the safest way to get in touch, victims can complete an online reporting form.
If you are unsure or uncomfortable about contacting the Police directly, you can report through an independent agency or online at www.report-it.org.uk.