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>> Voiceover: The aim of this video is to inform you of The Islands commitment to to
eradicating harassment and abuse to the public.
The Isle of Wight is seen by many as a place free from inequality and harassment. However
every year on The Isle of Wight people experience incidents of abuse and harassment which may
make them feel afraid, threatened or victimised.
[pause]
This is why the Community Safety Service is reintroducing a way of reporting diversity
incidents against a person or a group of people. Now available in hard copy, the Diversity
Incident Reporting Form is accompanied by an information leaflet on how to fill out
the form and the process of reporting a diversity incident.
Alternatively you can visit www.iwight.com where you can find an electronic version of
the form that is user friendly and easily accessible.
[pause]
We consider any abusive behaviour totally unacceptable. Bullying and harassment of any
description will not be tolerated and may involve the police being called in to investigate.
>> PC Mike Giddens: National research has suggested that this level of crime is under-reported,
so with this form it will help us to contact those people to report the incidents.
>> Voiceover: People can be subject to harassment on a variety of grounds such as their age,
appearance, background, caring responsibilities, health status, marital status, criminal convictions,
race, disability, religious belief, gender, geographical location, political affiliation,
*** orientation and socio-economic status. Although this list is not exhaustive.
[pause]
>> Rachel Jagger-Thomas: If you have experienced an incident you may not want to come out face-to-face
and talk to somebody about it immediately. The benefit of the form is that you can write
it down, you can make sure that it is noted but you can also choose to say on the form
whether you wish formal action to be taken or whether you just want this to go on record.
The beauty of it then is that if you are contacted if you want action you are aware that is is
being taken seriously and people will contact you in a confidential manner.
>> Voiceover: Completing the form is a simple process which consists of filling in your
contact details, whether you are a victim, a witness or a third party, the grounds on
which you feel you have been harassed and an overview of the incident, in your own words.
You can report all types of diversity incidents, including assault, verbal abuse and harassment.
The form can be used to report a diversity incident as a witness, a victim or anonymously.
The form and leaflet are now available at various locations, such as The Isle of Wight
College, Isle of Wight NHS, Hampshire Constabulary, Spectrum Medina, Isle of Wight Council buildings
and primarily The Community Safety Service building. When you have filled out the form
you should either drop it in or send it to the Community Safety Service.
[pause]
>> Rachel Jagger-Thomas: This form will be brilliant in terms of helping people come
forward and get the support they need.
>> Voiceover: Sometimes you may feel that the incident is too minor to report to the
police. It is however, still important to tell us what's happened so we may be able
to provide a safer place to live and work.
>> PC Mike Giddens: Not everybody feels confident about going to a police station and reporting
things like this and not everybody feels what they have been subject to is a hate crime
or a crime as such so it gives them a vehicle of a lesser key to contact the police.
>> Voiceover: Help us to make this a safe, fair place to live and work, free from inequality
and harassment.