Race hotline's 'exciting' start

The line is linked to a live translation system

There have been more than 200 calls to a race crime helpline on Tyneside in the first year since it was set up.

The confidential hotline was established in July 2002 to allow people to report racist incidents in Newcastle.

The help line - 08000 323288 - was set with a £50,00 grant from the Home Office's partnership development fund.

Newcastle City Council's community safety officer Neil Denton has described the first year of the scheme "exciting and promising".

He said: "We aim to stop people suffering in silence where racism is concerned.

"The number of calls are increasing all the time - this shows that people are feeling confident enough to get their voices heard which is exactly what we hoped for.

'Relevant agency'

"Racist abuse can have a very damaging effect on people's lives but often goes unreported because people don't know where to turn to get help.

"As agencies working together we can help them - not only by listening to them but by referring them to the relevant agency that can provide them with the support they need."

The new help line is linked into a live translation system available in over 100 languages.

"It is also one of the first in the country to use electronic systems, accessible to all relevant agencies including Victim Support, the Racial Harassment Support Group and the Asylum Seeker's Unit, ensuring the needs of immediate victims are met.

'Community service'

"For instance if someone needs to go to court and give evidence but is frightened and does not understand the proceedings, we can help by referring them to an organisation that can support them through this traumatic time."

Alan Brown, Director of the Communities Group at the Government Office for the North East, welcomed the good start to the scheme.

"This is a very good example of a service to the community that saves time by pulling agencies together including the Police, Victim Support, Racial Equality Council and the Probation Service to share information."

Northumbria University is helping to evaluate the new service using hi-tech equipment to analyse the calls made.