Introducing the Fife Remote Reporting Hate Crime Helpline
Through our sexual health awareness work we have realised how homophobic and discriminatory attitudes of a small amount of people can effect many others. Although having roots with the LGBT communities, the Fife Hate Crime Remote Reporting Helpline is available to anyone who has been subject to discriminatory actions of others. This may include people of colour, ethnic origins that differ from the majority; ageism; gender; on grounds of learning disadvantages; sexuality; mental health; medical status fro example prejudice against HIV or other blood borne viruses; sexual orientation or status; religious or other belief system; pacifist convictions or situations where personal difference has not been accepted.
As a helpliner your role, after training and assessment, would be to support the service user from the initial telephone contact to guiding and supporting the person through all stages should THEY decide to take their information forward. This may ultimately mean being a witness in any court proceedings.
The remote reporting system means that forms used to record calls become evidence and you will be training in the use of these forms and how to report crimes to the police.
What is Remote Reporting?
It maybe that a telephone caller wishes the Police to know of general incidents, but because of personal circumstances they are reluctant to report these matters directly to the police. The remote reporting helpline is a way in which information can be given to the Police, the purpose of which is to create a safer community for all citizens. However, from time to time callers may wish to take their information further and wish to report actual crimes with the support of the helpliner. In these situations it may mean that meetings and interviews with investigating Police officers have to take place. Should such information lead to a report to the Procurator Fiscal, and a decision to prosecute the alleged perpetrator, then the role of the helpliner would be to support the service user throughout this time and beyond, until the need for support is no longer required.
When does the helpline operate?
The helpline is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! BUT volunteers are placed on a rota duty when this suits them. BT technology means that our helpliners will be contacted at a place and by a communication means convenient to them. The home base for the service will be in the Fife Men Project, 5 South Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy KY1 1YA and helpliners would be expected to attend supervision and group training from time to time, at this venue.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer helpliner, you can download, print, complete and return an application form here
Hate Crime Helpline training documents:
The following documents are available for download in Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe PDF.
Click on the relevant document title for each of these.
You will need either Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat to view these files.
To download the free Adobe PDF reader click here