Tower Hamlets Council is joining the police in calling for anyone with information about a hate crime which took place outside the Troxy last year to come forward.
The council is also encouraging residents and local organisations to pledge to tackle hate crime in Tower Hamlets and support its No Place for Hate campaign.
Crimewatch has issued an appeal for witnesses – or anyone with information – about an assault which took place as a man left an LGBTQ club night.
Gordon Maxwell was assaulted outside the Troxy, on Commercial Road, at around 3am on December 3 2017. He sustained serious injuries from the brutal attack.
The attacker(s) have not been caught.
A CCTV image has been shared by the police and anyone who can identify the man shown is asked to contact the police on 020 7275 4601, or contact Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“One of the most inspiring things about Tower Hamlets is its diversity – and it’s something I’m very proud of. It’s imperative that all of our residents can live in peace and without fear of discrimination.
“Ours is a borough with a strong spirit of community where people from different backgrounds get on well together – we cannot let a small minority threaten this.
“Hate crime will not be accepted in our borough. I would encourage anyone who has information about the brutal assault of Gordon Maxwell last year to come forward.”
Cllr Asma Begum, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety and Equalities, said:
“The No Place for Hate campaign encourages victims to come forward and sends a clear message to perpetrators that hate crime will not be tolerated. Tower Hamlets is a diverse and inclusive borough. Hate crime is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated within our community.”
The No Place for Hate Forum and Hate Incidents Panel is a partnership forum which leads the campaign to tackle hate crime by providing support to victims, training people to be ‘champions’ in the community by raising awareness and working with organisations to ensure enforcement action.
One way people can make a difference is by pledging online to support the campaign:
https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/community_and_living/community_safety__crime_preve/hate_crime/personal_pledge.aspx
The council works closely with the police and other partners to prevent all forms of hate crime, take action against offenders and support and protect victims.
Anyone who is the victim of, or witness to, hate crime should to report it immediately. This is vital to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
You can call 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergencies. The council commission Victim Support to provide specialist emotional and practical support. Further details can be found on www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/hatecrime
PC Hawkins, LGBT & Hate Crime Liaison Officer for Tower Hamlets, said:
“Regardless of anyone’s race, sexual orientation, religious belief or disability, no one should be victimised for who they are or what they believe in, and I am here to listen and help anyone who feels they have been a victim of a hate crime in Tower Hamlets.
“The attack that happened on Mr Maxwell in December 2017 was totally unprovoked and completely unacceptable. Hate crime will not be tolerated by the Metropolitan Police Service in Tower Hamlets or any other borough. We are still appealing for anyone who was in the surrounding areas on the night of Mr Maxwell’s attack to come forward as we would like to hear from them as soon as possible.
“Tower Hamlets police and council are committed to working in partnership with each other to tackle hate crime in all forms, so that together we can ensure that our borough is ‘No Place for Hate’.”
- Press realise
