ALL parts of society must work together to tackle hate crime and combat radicalisation in the wake of Monday’s terrorist attack in Manchester, Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jeff Cuthbert has said.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Cuthbert said this is a time to show cohesion rather than division and urged people across Gwent to report any incidents of hate crime. He also called for vigilance to spot the signs of radicalisation in an effort to prevent a repeat of Monday’s tragedy.

Hate crime can include physical attacks, verbal or written abuse, including phone calls, letters and comments on social media, as well as vandalism, graffiti and threatening behaviour.

Mr Cuthbert said it was particularly important to ensure criminals did not attempt to use Monday’s attack as a justification for carrying out hate crime or targeting specific groups

“We are doing a lot of work to improve community cohesion and to tackle the problem of radicalisation,” he said.

“It’s critically important that we take steps to identify those that are in danger of being radicalised and work collectively to alter attitudes.

“Likewise those that are doing the radicalisation need to be identified.

“However there are some groups which want to divide us and will use this as an opportunity to drive forward their message of hatred and intolerance.”

Saying “the Manchester attack was in no way representative of any faith or religion”, the PCC added: “It was a criminal terror attack and should be regarded as such.

“It was carried out by a callous, cold blooded killer with a distorted sense of reality.

“Now more than ever is a time to show solidarity, defiance and cohesion in the face of division and hatred.

“If we don’t, then the terrorists will have already won.”

Mr Cuthbert was previously Caerphilly AM, but left last May to run for police and crime commissioner on behalf of Labour.

Gwent Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Emma Ackland backed his words.

“Gwent Police treats any report of hate crime seriously,” she said.

“Abuse or violence against individuals or groups because of who they are, whether physical or verbal, is a criminal offence.”

She added: “Acts of terrorism and hate crimes are committed by a small minority of people and are not representative of the public.”

Victims or witnesses of hate crime can report it to police on 101 or online via report-it.org.uk.

Information can also be reported to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

Hate crime can also be reported anonymously to Victim Support via 0300 303 1982 or reporthate.victimsupport.org.uk.

In an emergency always dial 999.