Voices of victims help shape better responses to hate in B&NES
People who have experienced hate crime and discrimination came together with local agencies in Bath and North East Somerset for the Voices of Victims of Hate and Discrimination roundtable event, documented in an October 2025 report.
Organised by SARI, the event brought together community members with representatives from the police, housing providers, the local authority, voluntary organisations and specialist support services. It created a space for people to share their experiences, be heard and help identify practical ways to improve support.
Roundtable discussions explored three questions: what went well, what could have gone better, and what needs to change. Participants spoke about reporting hate, accessing support and their experiences of the criminal justice system. The day also included three performances.
Some participants described the difference that compassionate support, regular updates and a consistent point of contact had made. Others shared experiences of feeling dismissed, receiving unclear advice or being passed between agencies without meaningful follow-up.
The discussions also highlighted how overlapping experiences of racism, disability discrimination and anti-LGBTQ+ hate can affect people’s safety and access to support.
The resulting report calls for clearer reporting routes, better communication, more consistent responses and closer working between agencies. It also recommends involving people with lived experience in developing training and improving services.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, ideas and time, and to the speakers, performers, facilitators and partners who supported the day. Their contributions provide a foundation for continued work to ensure that victims’ voices shape how agencies respond to hate.