Youth workers trained to help victims of hate crime in Lewisham

Security guards and youth club workers have been trained to help victims of hate crime.

Safe Haven Super Hubs have been opened in Lewisham to signpost services, and offer support to young people and vulnerable adults.

Police and Lewisham council officers have worked together to train people to help those who have sought refuge from a violent situation.  Those who are trained wear a badge.

Antisocial behaviour, safeguarding, serious youth violence and hate crime have been covered in the training.

The Safe Haven Super Hubs are based at the Lewisham Shopping Centre, Bellingham Gateway Youth and Community Centre, Riverside Youth Centre, and the TNG Youth & Community Centre in Lewisham.

In 2019 South-east London police spoke with community partners, schools, youth clubs and businesses about widening the borough’s safety network and creating additional places for the young and vulnerable to go to.

Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector Mick Chattenton, from the Met’s South East Unit, said: “Our officers are part of this borough and we share the community’s desire to help keep everybody safe.

“The community told us they wanted to strengthen and widen their safer networks, and we’ve listened.

“Safe Haven Super Hubs will help grow the number of people and places that the vulnerable can turn to if they need help.”

Cllr Brenda Dacres, cabinet member for safer communities, said: “As a wonderfully diverse borough and as a sanctuary borough we want all our residents to feel safe.

“Equally, we know there will be points when we feel vulnerable and unsafe.

“Working together in partnership with local police, we have created Safe Haven Super Hubs so that anyone no matter their age has somewhere safe to go and seek help and support when they feel unsafe, have been a victim of hate crime, or are feeling vulnerable.”

Pictured top: Sergeant Aaron King at Lewisham Shopping Centre