Leicester researcher wins National Hate Crime Award

Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy from our Centre for Hate Studies based at our Department of Criminology has won the ‘Research and Innovation Upstander’ award category at the National Hate Crime Awards.

This award was given in recognition of her outstanding contribution to tackling hatred, intolerance and prejudice through her work with the Centre for Hate Studies. This includes research funded by the ESRC, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Hertfordshire’s Office for Police and Crime Commissioner and Amnesty International UK, and the ongoing programme of hate crime training she delivers to professionals across the UK from a range of sectors including criminal justice, education, health and social care.

The National Hate Crime Awards was organised by Faith Matters – in partnership with a wide-range of agencies – to recognise individuals, activists and organisations who have ‘stood out and spoken up’ against prejudice and intolerance..

The Centre received this nomination because of Professor Neil Chakraborti’s and Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy’s significant and sustained effort to increase public and practitioner awareness of hate crime.

Dr Hardy, Lecturer in Hate Studies, said: “We are delighted that the Centre for Hate Studies was shortlisted for this prestigious national Award. We undertake research and deliver training to help policy-makers and practitioners to improve how they engage with diversity, support victims and tackle hate.

“This recognition of our work means a lot to us because it was members of the public, students, practitioners and colleagues who nominated us.”

The National Hate Crime Awards ceremony is taking place on Thursday 17 November 2016 in Central London with the theme ‘Upstanders not Bystanders’.