HATE crime will not be tolerated in Trafford.

That is the message from Trafford Partnership, which brings together organisations from across the public, private, voluntary, faith and community sectors, including Trafford Council, Greater Manchester Police, Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group, and Healthwatch Trafford.

The country has been rocked by a hike in hate crimes in the wake of the recent EU referendum but the partnership said there has been no increase in Trafford and is reinforcing the message that such incidents will not be tolerated.

It said it is ‘optimistic and confident that Trafford will remain a special, diverse, positive borough where residents can feel confident and are able to achieve their aspirations within thriving communities’.

However, it highlighted that the main barrier to action being taken is that often incidents aren't reported – and is encouraging victims to speak up.

Rev. Roger Sutton, co-chair of the Trafford Partnership, said: "Trafford is a great place to live in, where its residents are actively engaged in creating a thriving community and its organisations are working together to build a borough where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged.

“In times of challenge to our community cohesion we must work even harder to celebrate the diversity within Trafford with its different cultures, faiths, backgrounds and expressions. We are seeking to build a borough in which everyone can belong, a community of peace and safety where all of us seek to be good neighbours to one another.

“We want to reassure everyone, wherever they live that this will continue to be our main focus, and encourage our residents, community groups, and businesses to continue to work with us so together we can enjoy an even stronger, more resilient society which celebrates its diversity."

Across the borough there are a variety of ways, places and organisations set up to deal with reports.

These include, visiting a police station or calling the non-emergency number 101, reporting it on the national True Vision website report-it.org.uk/home, through Trafford Council's hate crime online reporting form at trafford.gov.uk/residents/community/community-safety/secure/hate-crime-reporting-form.aspx, or at any Trafford Council library contact centre.

Hate crimes can also be reported to non-police staff trained to deal with reports confidentially, at the following locations; Fitzroy, Trafford Day & Community Services, Sale; Trafford Housing Trust Sale Point; Genie Inspiring Families with Deafness in Greater Manchester, Stretford; Trafford Housing Trust, Stretford Mall; Sale Citizen Advice Bureau, Sale Waterside; Victim Support and Witness Service, Sale Waterside; Henshaws Society for the Blind, Old Trafford; Aspirations, Stretford; and Trafford Centre for Independent Living, Sale.