Teenager in court for hate crime

A 17 year old girl appeared at Stevenage Youth Court at the end of October, after being charged with a hate related crime.

The incident happened earlier this year in February, when the teenager racially abused a shopkeeper in the town centre.

She was arrested and charged with racially aggravated public order, to which she pleaded guilty at court. She was given a referral order and ordered to pay compensation to the shop keeper.

Stevenage Hate Crime Officer PC Lewis Thomson said: “Hate crime will not be tolerated in Stevenage. It can leave the victim feeling unsafe or scared to go out, and cause fear and mistrust amongst different parts of the community.

“We want people to know that we take it seriously and have specialist support for those who have been affected by it.

“We would urge anyone who has been a victim of hate crime to report it do us immediately.”

You can report hate crime online, Speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat.

Call the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency dial 999.

For more information about where to report hate crime: Herts Against Hate